Boston Scientific Corporation and Stryker Corporation have reached a settlement in their patent litigation concerning spinal device technology. The dispute centered on Stryker’s OptaBlate BVN device, which Boston Scientific alleged infringed upon its U.S. Patent No. 12,303,166, covering methods for using a radiofrequency probe to ablate the basivertebral nerve to treat chronic low back pain.
The legal proceedings began after Stryker received FDA clearance for the OptaBlate BVN system in May 2025. Boston Scientific sought a preliminary injunction to prevent Stryker from launching the device, arguing that it induced infringement of specific claims in the ‘166 patent. However, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey denied the injunction, a decision that was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in June 2026. The appellate court noted substantial questions regarding whether Stryker’s instructions to physicians constituted inducement of infringement.
Details of the settlement agreement have not been disclosed. This resolution allows both companies to continue offering their respective spinal treatment technologies without the overhang of ongoing litigation.
Boston Scientific has a history of engaging in patent litigation within the medical device industry. In 2022, the company paid $85 million to Nevro Corporation to settle disputes over spinal cord stimulation patents. Similarly, in 2009, Boston Scientific agreed to a $716 million settlement with Cordis Corporation over stent technology patents.
As of July 22, 2026, Boston Scientific’s stock (BSX) is trading at $42.97, while Stryker’s stock (SYK) is at $309.24. The settlement’s impact on their financial performance remains to be seen.