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Exhibit 10.41    
    


 
 

MASTER LICENSE AGREEMENT    
    


        THIS AGREEMENT by and between SurModics, Inc., a corporation of the State of Minnesota, which has an office at 9924 West 74th Street, Eden Prairie, MN
55344, (hereinafter referred to as SURMODICS), and Microvena Corporation, a corporation of the State of MINNESOTA, which has an office at 1861 Buerkle
Road, White Bear Lake, MN 55110-5246 (hereinafter referred to as MICROVENA). 



        WHEREAS,
SURMODICS is engaged in biological, chemical and technical research and has developed a body of technology and know-how, including reagents, processes and devices
which the parties believe will improve the performance of various products and processes of MICROVENA. 


        WHEREAS,
the technology of SURMODICS includes confidential information (including trade secrets and other know-how) which is proprietary to SURMODICS and SURMODICS is in the
process of securing patent coverage for certain items of its technology, and continues to maintain the confidentiality of other portions of its technology. 



        WHEREAS,
MICROVENA and SURMODICS are parties to a Mutual Confidential Disclosure Agreement dated March 31, 1994 ("Prior Disclosure Agreement"); 


        WHEREAS,
MICROVENA may desire to acquire additional licenses under SURMODICS' know-how and patent rights such licenses to be added to this Master Agreement; 


        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below and for other good and valuable consideration of which receipt is acknowledged, the parties agree
as follows: 


1.     DEFINITIONS  


        The following definitions apply to this Agreement and to all addenda thereto: 



        a.     "Effective
Date" means the date upon which this Agreement is fully executed. 


        b.     "Licensed
Product Effective Date" for each license granted herein shall mean the date specified in the respective Attachment B1, B2, and so forth. 



        c.     "Patent
Rights" means the patent application(s) and patent(s) identified in Attachment A hereof, together with all foreign counterparts, divisions, and continuation
applications based thereon, any patent issuing on any of said applications, and any reissues or extensions based on any of such patents. The term "Patent Rights" shall include Improvement Patents as
defined in Paragraph l(d). 



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        d.     "Improvement
Patents" means any U.S. patents or patent applications, and all foreign counterparts, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, reissues and
extensions thereof specifically pertaining to a Licensed Product: 



            i.  which
are filed on an invention conceived or reduced to practice by SURMODICS during the exclusive term (if any) of the license granted herein for that Licensed Product,
and 


           ii.  with
respect to which SURMODICS has the right to grant a license, and 



          iii.  which
but for the license granted herein would be infringed by the manufacture, use or sale (or by a surface treatment process employed to produce that product or a
reagent used in such process) by
MICROVENA of Medical Products having a surface treated through the use of SURMODICS' Know-how. 




        e.     "Medical
Products" means products that are specifically described in Attachment B1, B2, and so forth. 


        f.      "Licensed
Products" means each of the separately sold Medical Products specifically described in Attachment B1, B2, and so forth, and which: 



            i.  but
for the license granted herein the manufacture, use or sale would infringe (or a surface treatment process employed to produce a product or a reagent used in such
process would infringe) any claim of Patent Rights, or 


           ii.  are
produced through the use of SURMODICS' Know-how. 




        g.     "Know-how"
means SURMODICS' trade secrets and other technical information relating to the surface-treatment of medical devices and which SURMODICS has the
right to transmit to others. Know-how includes but is not limited to information contained in pending patent applications of Patent Rights and information that is Confidential Information
as defined in Paragraph 13. 


        h.     "Future
Know-how" with respect to any Licensed Product means Know-how that is acquired by SURMODICS during the exclusive term (if any) of the
license granted herein for that Licensed Product. 


            i.  "Net
Sales" means the total actual billing for sales of Licensed Products, less the following deductions where they are applicable with respect to such billings and when
separately shown on invoices: 



            i.  discounts
actually allowed and taken; 




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           ii.  any
customs, duties, taxes or other governmental excise or charge upon or measured by the production, sale, transportation, delivery or use of Licensed Product and
actually paid by MICROVENA; 


          iii.  amounts
allowed or credited on rejections or returns; 


          iv.  transportation
charges prepaid or allowed. 




Notwithstanding
the above, if any Licensed Product is sold both separately and as an integral part of a combination product containing one or more integral components in addition to that Licensed
Product, then Net Sales of that Licensed Product resulting from sales of that combination product will be calculated by multiplying the Net Sales for the combination product as calculated above by the
fraction A/B where A is the invoice price of the Licensed Product as sold separately and B is the invoice price of the combination product. 



A
Licensed Product shall be considered sold when it is shipped or when it is invoiced, whichever is earlier. To assure SURMODICS the full royalty payment contemplated in this Agreement and assure that
royalties are not paid by MICROVENA on sales to affiliated parties, royalties will be earned at the time the Licensed Product is sold to a non-Affiliate and will be calculated based upon
the price paid by the non-Affiliate. 


        j.      "Affiliate"
means any entity which owns at least 50% of, is at least 50% owned by, or is under common (at least 50%) ownership with MICROVENA. "Own" means ownership of at
least 50% of the stock entitled to vote for directors. 


        k.     "Valid
Claim" means a claim of Patent Rights that has not been held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction beyond possibility of appeal. 




2.     LICENSE  


        a.     With
respect to the Licensed Product defined in each of Attachments B1, B2, and so forth, SURMODICS grants to MICROVENA, a separate worldwide license under SURMODICS'
Patent Rights and Know-how to make, have made for it, use and sell that Licensed Product. The license granted herein is expressly limited to the specific Licensed Products defined herein,
and does not include the right to sublicense except as provided for in Paragraphs 2(c) and 2(d). Additional terms of each license are set out in the respective Attachments B1, B2, and so forth. To the
extent of any inconsistency between the terms set forth in the text of this Agreement and the terms set forth in Attachments B1, B2, and so forth, the terms set forth in the text of this Agreement
shall be controlling. Each such license shall be effective as of its Licensed Product Effective Date. 



        b.     Subject
to the limited license granted herein, SURMODICS shall retain all rights to the Patent Rights and Know-how. SURMODICS shall retain the right to use
Patent Rights and Know-how for its own research purposes. 


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        c.     The
license granted herein includes the right to grant sublicenses to the following Affiliates of MICROVENA: 



	Infinity Extrusion & Engineering, Inc.

3350 Scott Boulevard, Building 6

Santa Clara, CA 95054

USA	 	Flexmedics Corporation

12400 Whitewater Drive, Suite 2040

Minnetonka, MN 55343

USA






        d.     With
regard to each sublicense to Affiliates: 



            i.  MICROVENA
shall be responsible for and guarantee the payment of royalties by the Affiliates and the performance of all of the Affiliate obligations provided herein; 


           ii.  SURMODICS
shall have the right to audit the Affiliates under Paragraph 5(b); 


          iii.  All
Affiliates must be subject to confidentiality provisions no less stringent than contained in Paragraph 12 herein. 


          iv.  All
Affiliates must be subject to the provisions contained in Paragraph 8(b) herein. 


           v.  No
sublicense to Affiliates shall be effective unless and until the Sublicense Agreement and SurModics Consent attached as Attachment C has been executed by the
Affiliate, delivered to SURMODICS and signed by SURMODICS. 




        e.     Each
sublicense granted to an Affiliate by MICROVENA shall terminate at such time as the sublicensed company ceases to be an Affiliate of Microvena. 


3.     LICENSE FEES  


        For each license granted by SURMODICS, MICROVENA shall pay to SURMODICS a License Fee as set out in the respective Attachment B1, B2, and so forth. 


4.     ROYALTIES  



        For each license granted herein, MICROVENA shall pay to SURMODICS a royalty for each quarter calendar year during the term of this License Agreement which will be
the greater of the royalties of Paragraphs 4(a) or 4(b). 


        a.     Earned
Royalties shall be calculated as provided for in the respective Attachment B1, B2, and so forth. No more than one Earned Royalty shall be paid by MICROVENA for any
Licensed Product. However, if any Licensed Product is covered by more than one 


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Attachment
B1, B2, and so forth, then the Earned Royalty rate shall be the highest rate specified for such Licensed Product. 


        b.     Minimum
Royalties shall be paid for each Licensed Product as provided for in the respective Attachment B1, B2, and so forth. 


5.     ROYALTY PAYMENTS, REPORTS, RECORDS  



        a.     During
the term of this Agreement, and for each license granted hereunder, MICROVENA will make written reports and payments to SURMODICS within thirty (30) days
after the last day of each calendar quarter ending March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31. Each such report shall state the Net Sales, unit volumes, Earned
Royalty, corrections of error in prior royalty payments, and data and calculations used by MICROVENA to determine such payments for each of the licenses corresponding to the respective Attachments Bl,
B2, and so forth. Each report shall be accompanied by payment in full of the royalty due SURMODICS for that quarter. The December 31 quarterly report shall also include a summary progress
report regarding MICROVENA's relevant developmental, manufacturing scale-up, regulatory affairs, and marketing activities with respect to all Licensed Products along with a summary
forecast of projected sales of Licensed Products and forecasted reagent usage for the next calendar year. 


        b.     MICROVENA
will maintain, for a period of five (5) years following each sale of Licensed Product, true and accurate records supporting the reports and payments made
under this Agreement. SURMODICS shall have the right to carry out an audit of such records no more frequently than once per calendar year by a certified public accountant of its choice. Such
accountant shall have reasonable access to MICROVENA's offices and the relevant records, files and books of account, and such accountant shall have the right to examine any other records reasonably
necessary to determine the accuracy of the calculations provided by MICROVENA under Paragraph 5(a). Such audit shall be at SURMODICS' expense except that if an underpayment error is found for
any twelve month period that exceeds 5% of the payment made to SURMODICS for that period, then MICROVENA will bear the cost of such audit. 


        c.     All
royalties on sales of each Licensed Product to be paid to SURMODICS by MICROVENA under this Agreement shall be paid in U.S. Dollars to SURMODICS in the United States.
For the purpose of calculating Earned Royalties on sales outside the United States for any calendar quarter, MICROVENA shall utilize the average rate of exchange on the last business day of that
calendar quarter as quoted in the Wall Street Journal. 


        d.     Any
sum required under U.S. tax laws (or the tax laws of any other government) to be withheld by MICROVENA from payment for the account of SURMODICS shall be promptly
paid by MICROVENA for and on behalf of SURMODICS to the appropriate tax authorities, and MICROVENA shall furnish SURMODICS with official tax receipts or other appropriate evidence issued by the
appropriate tax authorities sufficient to enable SURMODICS to support a claim for income tax credit in respect to any sum so withheld. 


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6.     DEVELOPMENT FEES  


        MICROVENA agrees to pay SURMODICS for development efforts ("Development Fees") while working on MICROVENA's products at SURMODICS' then standard hourly rate for
development efforts provided, however, that such development effort is pursuant to a mutually agreed upon project plan. SURMODICS' standard hourly rate includes direct labor costs plus direct labor
overhead. SURMODICS shall additionally charge direct materials plus direct materials overhead of fifteen percent (15%). Direct materials may include expenses such as travel and special equipment, but
only as mutually agreed upon in writing. SURMODICS shall invoice MICROVENA monthly for such Development Fees and payment shall be made within thirty (30) days thereafter. 


7.     TERM  


        a.     Unless
earlier terminated, each license herein granted shall begin upon the Licensed Product Effective Date set out in the respective Attachment B1, B2, and so forth, and
shall extend for each Licensed Product so licensed until expiration of the last to expire patent of Patent Rights that covers that product or for a period of fifteen (15) years following the
first bona fide commercial sale of such Licensed Product, whichever is longer; provided, however, that for a Licensed Product that embodies or is manufactured through the use of Future
Know-how, the license herein granted shall extend until expiration of the last to expire patent of Patent Rights that covers that Licensed Product or for a period of fifteen
(15) years from the date of the first bona fide commercial sale by MICROVENA of that Licensed Product, whichever is longer. 


        b.     Upon
expiration of the full term of the license granted herein for any Licensed Product, and upon full payment by MICROVENA to SURMODICS of any monies due under this
Agreement, the license with respect to Know-how licensed herein for that Licensed Product shall be deemed paid up and non-exclusive (if any such license was exclusive), and
SURMODICS may negotiate additional license agreements with any other party for that Licensed Product. 


8.     PATENTS  


        a.     MICROVENA
shall see to it that all Licensed Products sold by MICROVENA shall be appropriately marked with the applicable patent numbers, in conformity with applicable
law. 


        b.     SURMODICS
recognizes that it is an objective of MICROVENA to obtain patents on technology that it develops concerning chemicals having latent reactive groups and their
uses. MICROVENA recognizes that a vital part of SURMODICS' business involves the licensing of others under SURMODICS' patents and know-how to make, use and sell products, and that it is an
objective of SURMODICS to enable its present and future licensees to exploit patent licenses from SURMODICS to produce and sell products 


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without
interference from any patent that MICROVENA might obtain. A purpose of this Paragraph 8(b) is to establish a system under which each party may accomplish its respective objective. 



            i.  "MICROVENA
Patents" means patents which (a) claim inventions conceived or first reduced to practice during the term of this Agreement solely by one or more
MICROVENA employees or others who are required to assign inventions to MICROVENA, and (b) claim inventions relating to chemical species having photo-reactive or other latent reactive groups for
the purpose of bonding chemicals such as synthetic polymers and biologically active materials onto surfaces or into matrices or to other molecules, the use of such chemicals species, or the products
resulting from such use, and (c) which could be infringed by the manufacture, use or sale of any product or process covered by any claim of any patent that SURMODICS has the right to license to
others or may have licensed to others. 


           ii.  During
the term of this Agreement, MICROVENA will provide SURMODICS with a copy of each proposed patent application for a MICROVENA Patent, and SURMODICS will provide
comments concerning such application, including comments regarding inclusion of SURMODICS' Confidential Information, prior work done by SURMODICS in connection with the claimed invention, and the
state of the art. No application for a MICROVENA Patent shall be made without SURMODICS' prior written permission. If SURMODICS can fairly show that it had substantial knowledge of the invention of
any MICROVENA Patent application before receiving from MICROVENA that patent application, SURMODICS shall promptly notify MICROVENA and the parties shall cooperate in comparing records of conception
of that invention to determine in good faith which party was the earliest to conceive the invention. 


          iii.  SURMODICS
shall have and is hereby granted a noncancelable, nonexclusive, worldwide license, with the right to sublicense, to make, have made for it, use and sell
products and processes covered by each MICROVENA Patent to the extent that such manufacture, use or sale also is covered by any claim of any patent that SURMODICS has the right to license to others or
may have licensed to others. If MICROVENA was the earliest to conceive the invention of that patent, then the license granted to SURMODICS, and SURMODICS' right to sublicense, shall exclude the right
to manufacture, use or sell Medical Products. 


          iv.  In
return for such license, SURMODICS will pay MICROVENA a total of five percent (5%) of the royalties (regardless of the number of MICROVENA Patents that are licensed
to SURMODICS or the number of licenses involved) that SURMODICS receives from its sublicensees based on sales by its sublicensees of products that but for such sublicenses would infringe any Valid
Claim of MICROVENA Patents. Notwithstanding the above, if SURMODICS was the earliest to conceive the invention of any MICROVENA Patent, then the license granted to SURMODICS shall be considered
paid-up. 



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        c.     With
respect to patentable Joint Inventions (inventions made jointly by one or more employees of each party), the parties agree that mutually acceptable patent counsel
shall be retained to prepare, file, and prosecute such patent applications as may reasonably be required to provide protection for such inventions. The joint inventors each shall be required to assign
their Joint Inventions, including all patent applications therefore and the resulting patents, if any ("Joint Patents") to SURMODICS. Subject to paragraph (ii) below, SURMODICS shall bear the
expense of obtaining and maintaining Joint Patents. Joint Patents shall be considered Patent Rights in determining the payment of royalties to SURMODICS under Paragraph 4 of this Agreement.
With respect to each Joint Patent: 



            i.  SURMODICS
agrees to grant and hereby grants MICROVENA a worldwide license to make, use and sell Medical Products for the term of the license granted for each Medical
Product specified in the respective Attachment B1, B2, and so forth. 



           ii.  With
respect to each Joint Invention, SURMODICS may choose at any time, upon notice to MICROVENA, to forego any further expense of obtaining or maintaining Joint
Patent(s), and will offer to assign such Joint Invention, patent application and/or Joint Patent to MICROVENA. If MICROVENA accepts such offer, it shall at its own expense prepare and file the
necessary assignments and shall be solely responsible for obtaining and/or maintaining Joint Patent(s) for such Joint Invention. MICROVENA agrees to grant and hereby grants to SURMODICS an exclusive,
irrevocable, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, under any such Joint Patents for all products other than Medical Products. 



          iii.  The
limitations of Paragraphs 8(c)(i) and 8(c)(ii) apply only to Joint Patents and not to any other patents owned by either party. 


          iv.  Should
either party choose to bring suit for infringement by a third party of any Joint Patents, the party bringing suit shall have the right to join the other party as
a party to the suit to the extent required by law. 




        d.     The
parties agree to execute and exchange upon request such documents as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the provisions of Paragraphs 8(b) and 8(c). 


9.     ALLOCATION OF ROYALTIES  


        After five (5) years from the Licensed Product Effective Date, the Earned Royalty rate with respect to any Licensed Product shall be prospectively reduced
to seventy percent (70%) of the Earned Royalty rate set out in Paragraph 4(a) and the respective Attachments B1, B2, and so forth, to the extent that and during the term that neither the
manufacture, nor the use, nor the sale of that specific Licensed Product (or a surface treatment process or a reagent used in such process) is covered by any Valid
Claim of Patent Rights. The provisions of this Paragraph 9 shall not apply to payment of Minimum Royalties as provided in Paragraph 4(b) and the respective Attachments B1, B2, and so
forth. 


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   10.   TERMINATION  



        a.     For
each license granted herein: 



            i.  MICROVENA
shall have the right to terminate the respective Attachment B1, B2, and so forth, under which such license was granted, but only in its entirety, at any time
upon ninety (90) days advance written notice. Upon termination of such license, MICROVENA shall have no further rights under Patent Rights or Know-how. However, MICROVENA shall be
allowed to sell any inventory of Licensed Products existing at the time of termination for a period of six (6) months thereafter (thereafter destroying any remaining inventory), provided
MICROVENA accounts for such sales of inventory and pays SURMODICS the appropriate Earned Royalty for such sales as set out in Paragraph 4(a) of this Agreement. 



           ii.  SURMODICS
may terminate this Agreement in whole or with respect to any license granted herein upon thirty (30) days written notice for any material breach or
default by MICROVENA, including without limitation, failure to comply with the confidentiality provisions of Paragraph 13, failure to make reports and payments when due, failure to pay Minimum
Royalties, and withholding or notice of intent to withhold any royalties provided for in this Agreement. Said termination under this Paragraph 10(a)(ii) shall become effective at the end
of the thirty (30) day period unless during that period MICROVENA shall first cure such breach or default. 



          iii.  Upon
termination of any license under any of the provisions of this Paragraph 10, but subject to the provisions of Paragraph 10(a)(i), referring to the
sale of inventory, MICROVENA shall cease making, having made for it, using and selling the Licensed Products of such license that are produced through the use of SURMODICS' Know-how.
SURMODICS shall have the right to seek equitable relief to enforce the provisions of this Paragraph 10(a)(iii). 




        b.     Either
party may terminate this Agreement if the other party hereto is involved in insolvency, dissolution, bankruptcy or receivership proceedings affecting the operation
of its business. 


        c.     Notwithstanding
the provisions of Paragraph 20, failure of MICROVENA to initiate bona fide commercial sales of any Licensed Product by the date set out for that
Licensed Product in the respective Attachment B1, B2, and so forth, to this Agreement shall permit SURMODICS to terminate the license for that Licensed Product upon ninety (90) days written
notice at any time prior to the date MICROVENA begins bona fide commercial sales of that Licensed Product. 


        d.     In
the event that all licenses granted herein are terminated, SURMODICS shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in its entirety upon written notice. 



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11.   CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS SUBSEQUENT TO TERMINATION  



        a.     Upon
any termination of this Agreement or any of the licenses granted herein, the following rights and obligations shall continue to the degree necessary to permit their
complete fulfillment or discharge: 



            i.  SURMODICS'
right to receive and MICROVENA's obligation to pay royalties to the extent owed; and 


           ii.  MICROVENA's
obligation to maintain records and SURMODICS' right to audit under Paragraph 5, with respect to sales made and to be made under
Paragraph 10(a)(i); and 


          iii.  Any
cause of action or claim of either party, accrued or to accrue, because of any breach or default by the other party; and 



          iv.  MICROVENA's
obligation to maintain confidentiality under Paragraph 13; and 


           v.  MICROVENA's
obligation to forebear from use of SURMODICS' Know-how as provided in Paragraph 10(a)(iii); and 


          vi.  The
parties' obligations under Paragraphs 8(b) and 8(c) with respect to filing patent applications and payment of royalties on issued patents. 




        b.     Within
thirty (30) days of the date of termination of this Agreement, MICROVENA shall return to SURMODICS all copies of documents and other materials containing or
disclosing any of SURMODICS' Confidential Information. 




12.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES  



        a.     Each
party warrants to the other that it has not accepted and will not accept commitments or restrictions with respect to its rights or obligations under this Agreement
which will materially affect the value of the rights granted by SURMODICS nor the obligations undertaken by MICROVENA. 


        b.     Each
party has the full and unrestricted right to enter into this Agreement. 


        c.     Nothing
in this Agreement shall be construed as: 



            i.  A
warranty or representation by SURMODICS as to the validity or scope of any Patent Rights; or 



           ii.  A
warranty or representation that anything made, used, sold, or otherwise disposed of, or any process practiced, under any License granted in this Agreement is or will
be free from infringement of patents of third persons; or 




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          iii.  A
requirement that SURMODICS file any patent application, secure any patent, or maintain any patent in force; or 



          iv.  An
obligation to bring or prosecute actions or suits against third parties for infringement of any patent; or 


           v.  An
obligation to furnish any manufacturing or technical information not encompassed within Know-how; or 


          vi.  Conferring
any right on either party to use in advertising, publicity, or otherwise any trademark or trade name of the other; or 



         vii.  Granting
by implication, estoppel, or otherwise any licenses or rights under patents or other proprietary information of SURMODICS other than those included within
Patent Rights and Know-how. 




        d.     With
respect to photo-reactive reagents supplied at any time by SURMODICS, SURMODICS disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties
of merchantability, non-infringement and fitness for a particular purpose. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, SURMODICS shall not be liable for incidental, consequential, special,
extraordinary or punitive damages of any description, whether for damage to reputation or goodwill, lost profits, claims of third parties or otherwise, whether such asserted damage purports to be
based on warranty or guarantee, indemnity or other contract, contribution, negligence or other tort, or otherwise. 


        e.     SURMODICS
does not make any representations, extend any warranties of any kind, either express or implied, or assume any responsibilities whatever with respect to use,
sale, or other disposition by MICROVENA or its vendees or transferees of Licensed Products incorporating or made by use of the Patent Rights and Know-how licensed under this Agreement. 



        f.      MICROVENA
represents that it will take action to reasonably bring to market and to sell Licensed Product throughout MICROVENA's world-wide marketing territory
during the term of this Agreement. Failure to adequately promote and market Licensed Product may, at SURMODICS' option, be interpreted as a material breach or default of this Agreement. SURMODICS
expects MICROVENA to demonstrate appropriate product development activities, participate in clinical trials, submit appropriate regulatory or governmental filings for appropriate marketing clearances,
integrate the Licensed Product into MICROVENA's manufacturing operations, educate appropriate sales and marketing staff, and introduce and actively market the Licensed Product upon completion of
product development and obtaining appropriate regulatory approvals. 



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13.   CONFIDENTIALITY  



        a.     Each
party agrees to retain in confidence all Know-how and other information received from the other, including without limitation, information required to be
maintained in confidence under prototype development or manufacturing scale-up or post scale-up relationships between the parties, for a period of fifteen (15) years
from the date of disclosure or five (5) years from the date of termination of this Agreement, whichever is longer. Each party agrees not to disclose any of such Know-how or other
information to third parties nor to use the same except in accordance with this Agreement. Each party's obligation of non-disclosure and non-use shall not apply to information
which: 



            i.  at
the time of its disclosure to the receiving party is available to the public; 


           ii.  after
disclosure becomes available to the public through no fault of the receiving party; 


          iii.  the
receiving party can show was in its possession at the time of disclosure to it by the other; 


          iv.  the
receiving party can show was received by it from a third party without breach of a confidential obligation; or 


           v.  is
required to be disclosed by any governmental agency. 




Even
after any of such information becomes available to the public, each party shall not disclose without the other's prior written approval the fact that such information was furnished by or
originated with the other. 


        b.     For
the purpose of this entire Paragraph 13, Know-how or other information which is specific shall not be deemed to be within any of the specified
exceptions merely because it is embraced by more general information in such exception. In addition, any combination of features shall not be deemed to be within any of the specified exceptions merely
because individual features are in such exception, but only if the combination itself and its principle of operation are in such exception. 


        c.     Notwithstanding
the above, MICROVENA specifically agrees that it will not disclose to any Affiliates or other third party any of SURMODICS' Know-how relating
to the manufacture of SURMODICS' chemical reagents, the precise chemical composition of such reagents, how such reagents are tested, how they are quality controlled, and any other specific information
concerning the production of such reagents. 


        d.     The
provisions of this entire Paragraph 13 shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason. 



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        e.     Nothing
herein shall in any way affect the obligations of the parties under any prior secrecy or confidential disclosure agreements, including the Prior Disclosure
Agreement, which obligations shall continue in accordance with the terms of each such agreement to the extent not inconsistent with the present Agreement. 




14.   ASSIGNMENT  


        This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors to the entire assets and business of the respective
parties hereto. Either party may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to a financially responsible third party, but only in connection with a complete transfer to the third party of
the business to which this Agreement pertains. The assigning party will so inform the other party to this Agreement without delay of any assignment made in accordance with the conditions of this
Agreement. This Agreement shall not otherwise be assignable by either party without the prior written consent of the other party. Any and all assignments of this Agreement or any interest therein not
made in accordance with this paragraph shall be void. 


15.   GOVERNMENT APPROVAL  


        MICROVENA shall have the sole responsibility, at MICROVENA's sole expense, for obtaining any government approvals that may be required for the investigation or
marketing of Licensed Products. 


16.   PRODUCT LIABILITY  


        MICROVENA will defend and indemnify SURMODICS against all losses, liabilities, lawsuits, claims, expenses (including attorney's fees), costs, and judgments
incurred through personal injury, property damage, or other claims of third parties, arising from the design, manufacture, use, or sale of Licensed Products. 


17.   NO WAIVER  


        Any waiver of any term or condition of this Agreement by either party shall not operate as a waiver of any other or continued breach of such term or condition, or
any other term or condition, nor shall any failure to enforce a provision hereof operate as a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof. 


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18.   NOTICES  


        All communications or other notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be given when personally delivered, or
when mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, and addressed as follows: 



If
to SURMODICS: 



License
Administration

SurModics, Inc.

9924 West 74th Street

Eden Prairie, MN 55344





If
to MICROVENA: 



Joel
Hixson

Microvena Corporation

1861 Buerkle Road

White Bear Lake, MN 55110-5246 




Either
party shall have the right to change the person and/or address to which notices hereunder shall be given, by notice to the other party in the manner set out above. 




19.   CAPTIONS  


        The captions and headings of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall in no way limit or otherwise affect any of the terms or provisions contained
herein. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or other rule requiring construction hereof against the party drafting this Agreement. 


20.   FORCE MAJEURE  



        Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform as required by any provisions of this Agreement where such failure results from a cause beyond such party's
reasonable control such as acts of God, regulation or other acts of civil or military authority, required approval(s) of government bodies, fires, strikes, floods, epidemics, quarantine restrictions,
riot, delays in transportation and inabilities to obtain necessary labor, materials, or manufacturing facilities. In the event of any delay attributable to any of the foregoing causes, the time for
performance affected thereby shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of such delay. The cumulative effect of all such delays under this Paragraph 20 shall not exceed one
(1) year. 



21.   NO AGENCY  


        Nothing in this Agreement authorizes either SURMODICS or MICROVENA to act as agent for the other as to any matter, or to make any representations to any third
party indicating or implying the existence of any such agency relationship. SURMODICS and 


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MICROVENA
shall each refrain from any such representations. The relationship between SURMODICS and MICROVENA is that of independent contractors. 


22.   SEVERABELITY  


        Should any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof, to any extent be held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement and the
application thereof other than such invalid or unenforceable provisions shall not be affected thereby and shall continue valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law or equity. 



23.   GOVERNING LAW  


        For all purposes under this Agreement, the parties agree and admit that jurisdiction and venue are proper in the Federal District Court, District of Minnesota.
This Agreement shall for all purposes be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota, except for its conflict of laws provisions. 


24.   ARBITRATION  



        a.     In
the event of any dispute concerning this Agreement, including its interpretation, performance, breach or termination, the procedures of this Paragraph 24 shall
apply; provided, however, that either party shall have the unrestricted right at any time to seek a court injunction prohibiting the other party from making unauthorized disclosure or use of
Confidential Information as provided for in Paragraph 13 or unauthorized use of SURMODICS' Know-how as provided for in Paragraph 10(a)(iii). 


        b.     Both
parties will use good faith and reasonable efforts to resolve any dispute informally and as soon as practical. If any such dispute is not resolved informally within
a reasonable period, then an officer from each party, having authority to resolve such dispute, will meet at a mutually agreeable time and place to attempt to resolve the dispute. 


        c.     If
the parties are unable to resolve a dispute as provided immediately above, either party may submit the dispute for resolution by mandatory, binding arbitration in the
city of Minneapolis, MN (or such other place as the parties may mutually agree) under the auspices of the American Arbitration Association under it's Commercial Arbitration Rules. Each party shall
select one independent, qualified arbitrator and the two arbitrators so selected shall then select a third arbitrator in accordance with the Commercial Rules. Each party reserves the right to object
to any individual arbitrator (no matter by whom chosen) who has been employed by or affiliated with a competing organization. 


        d.     The
arbitrators, who shall act by majority vote, shall be empowered to decree any and all relief of an equitable nature, including but not limited to temporary
restraining orders, temporary injunctions, and/or permanent injunctions, and shall also be able to award damages, with or without an accounting of costs. Judgment on the award rendered by the 



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arbitrator(s)
may be entered into any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each party shall bear its own costs and divide other reasonable arbitrator costs equally. 




25.   ENTIRE AGREEMENT  


        This Agreement, together with the Prior Disclosure Agreement and all addenda, attachments, and writings required or contemplated hereby, constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties with respect to the Licenses granted herein, and no party shall be liable or bound to the other in any manner by any warranties, representations or guarantees except as
specifically set forth herein. This Agreement shall not be altered or otherwise amended except by an instrument in writing signed by both parties. 


        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the date last written below. 



	SurModics, Inc.	 	Microvena Corporation
	

By	
 	

/s/ Walter H. Diers Jr
	
 	

By	
 	

/s/ Joel D. Hixson

	Printed Name	 	WALTER H. DIERS JR
	 	Printed Name	 	Joel D. Hixson

	Title	 	VICE PRESIDENT
	 	Title	 	President

	Date	 	12-29-98
	 	Date	 	23 Dec '98





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Exhibit 10.41


MASTER LICENSE AGREEMENT