Medical device maker Boston Scientific Corp. said a Canadian court dismissed a patent infringement lawsuit filed against the company by rival Johnson & Johnson.

New Brunswick, N.J.-based Johnson & Johnson sued Natick, Mass.-based Boston Scientific, claiming its NIR stents infringed two of Johnson & Johnson's patents. The court ruled that one Johnson & Johnson patent was not infringed and the other patent was invalid.

Johnson & Johnson is also suing Boston Scientific over its Express and Taxus Express stents.

"We are very pleased with the decision by the Canadian Federal Court dismissing this case," Boston Scientific Chief Operating Officer Paul LaViolette said.

"The ruling affirms our position that our products do not infringe these patents. We also believe our Express and TAXUS Express coronary stents do not infringe -- as alleged by Johnson & Johnson -- and are hopeful the Court will reach the same conclusion," he added.

Stents are tiny, mesh-wire tubes that prop open arteries after they have been surgically cleared of fatty plaque.

Johnson & Johnson could not immediately be reached for comment.

SOURCE: Boston.com, ag-ip-news.com