Prof Hall Quoted in Star Tribune About Medtronic Settlement

Professor Ralph Hall was quoted extensively in a Star Tribune article about a 12-year legal battle over coronary stent and stent delivery technology that resulted in a $400 million settlement between Medtronic Inc. and Abbott Laboratories. "Research is the lifeblood of the med-tech industry," noted Hall. "Companies are reluctant to allow others to benefit for free from their research and development, and that's why there's patent litigation," he said.

The two companies also agreed not to sue each other over the stent field for the next ten years. "Ten years gives everyone a level of certainty and time to focus attention and resources on new products, innovation and research, rather than being consumed by patent litigation," Hall added.