Medtronic sued for patent infringement on glucose-monitoring system

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Medtronic has been sued by a small New York company that claims the device giant violated its patent for a blood-glucose-monitoring system.

Rochester, N.Y.-based telemedicine firm Medgraph claims Medtronic’s CareLink system incorporates its technology, according to news reports. CareLink allows doctors to monitor patients’ conditions and vital signs via the Internet.

Medgraph is seeking an order requiring Medtronic to stop its alleged patent infringement and unspecified damages, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.

Medtronic hasn’t been served with Medgraph’s complaint, but if it is, the company “will defend itself vigorously,” a spokesman said via e-mail.

“It does not appear that any Medtronic product infringes any claim of the asserted patent, and the patent itself may not be valid because the claimed invention was already made by several others before Medgraph applied for its patent,” the spokesman said.

Medgraph specializes in technology that enables remote monitoring of patients, also known as telemedicine.

Medtronic in July extricated itself from a series of stent-related patent suits after a $400 million settlement with Abbott Laboratories. Diabetes is considered one of the long-term, high-growth segments for Medtronic, which is trying to develop an artificial pancreas system.