BioTech IP Review

Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
Patent Number: 12,337,139 B2
Filed: (Priority from earlier filings; published grant news in June 2025)
Issued: June 24, 2025
Inventors: Andrew Pic, Collin Murray, Laurie A. Lehtinen (Massachusetts inventors)

What This Patent Covers

This patent protects medical devices and corresponding delivery mechanisms designed to deliver therapeutic agents (e.g., drugs or biologics) to target tissues via advanced catheter systems — a technology core to many of Boston Scientific’s products for cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, and interventional procedures.

Key elements include:

• A catheter with one or more lumens configured to transport pressurized fluid and a therapeutic agent.
• An agent reservoir or enclosure integrated into the device that stores the agent and mixes it with the pressurized fluid prior to delivery.
• A valve assembly that controls release of the agent‑fluid mixture from the catheter to the target tissue — enabling precise delivery during minimally invasive procedures.

In practical terms, the invention allows clinicians to precisely deliver drugs, growth factors, or other therapeutic agents directly to tissues inside the body through advanced catheter systems — improving outcomes in interventional cardiology, oncology, and vascular surgery where targeted agent delivery is crucial.

---

Why This Patent Is Important

Core to Growth Markets
Boston Scientific’s revenue is heavily anchored in interventional medical devices, including catheters, stents, ablation systems, and agent‑delivery technologies that are used in cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, and oncology procedures. This patent strengthens protection for technology used in these high‑revenue product segments.

Platform Technology
Because it covers both the device architecture and controlled agent release mechanisms, the patent extends beyond one product — it can apply across a range of future delivery systems Boston Scientific may commercialize.

Competitive Moat
Advanced agent delivery catheters are a key battleground in minimally invasive interventions. Exclusive rights to optimized delivery mechanisms help Boston Scientific defend its market position and differentiate against competitors.

Enables Strategic Extensions
This IP also potentially supports next‑generation therapies combining devices with biologics or targeted pharmaco‑interventions, such as drug‑eluting stents or intravascular drug delivery.