Case Info
Zylon Corp. and Medtronic’s Business Relationship
Zylon Corp., a developer and manufacturer of industrial rubberized and polymer goods, including medical device components, worked under multiple confidentiality agreements to explore a business relationship with Medtronic, a global healthcare technology company known for its innovative medical devices and therapies. Medtronic is a manufacturer of medical devices, such as angioplasty balloon catheters, IV delivery systems, and insulin pumps. Many of these products are made with polymer substances.
One such agreement between Zylon and Medtronic was the Evaluation Agreement in 2005, where Medtronic funded Zylon’s efforts to develop a “zero-fold” balloon, a key component for a ballon angioplasty catheter.
The “Zero Fold” Balloon
The “zero-fold” balloon is a component for a balloon angioplasty catheter, one Zylon was working on an original design for.
A balloon angioplasty catheter is a medical device used in an angioplasty procedure, which is designed to open up blocked or narrowed blood vessels, typically arteries, to improve blood flow. The catheter is a thin, flexible tube with a small ballon at its tip. During the procedure, the zero-fold balloon would be inserted using a catheter during an angioplasty to inflate, open an obstructed blood vessel, and revert back into the catheter once deflated.
Medtronic Misappropriated Trade Secrets
The prospective business arrangement between Zylon and Medtronic eventually fell through, and afterward Medtronic allegedly used Zylon’s trade secrets from the development of the “zero-fold” ballon to develop its own balloon component for a product known as the Sprinter© Legend Semicompliant Rapid Exchange Balloon Catheter.
Zylon alleged Medtronic used samples that had been provided by Zylon to develop its own version of the same type of product.
Zylon filed a lawsuit against Medtronic, accusing the company of misappropriating trade secrets, breach of contract, unfair competition, and unfairly profiting off of Zylon’s designs.
As trial counsel, Seeger Weiss partner David Buchanan helped navigate contentious trial proceedings and played an instrumental role in securing a settlement for Zylon and others on the eve of closing statements.