Opinion ID: 783155
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Substantially Parallel Connector Members

Text: 52 AVE offers another basis for upholding the grant of JMOL with respect to the '984 patent, arguing that the connector members in the accused devices are not disposed in a substantially parallel relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular members, as required by the claims of the '984 patent. For a connector member to be substantially parallel to the tubular members, the district court stated, the connector member must run in substantially the same direction as the longitudinal axis of the adjacent tubular members.... This means `that the slots and the connectors run in the same direction and are substantially aligned with one another.' AVE contends that its connector members are perpendicular to the tubular members. In making that argument, AVE focuses on the relative width and length of its connector members to establish the direction in which the members lie. 53 Substantial evidence supports the jury's conclusion that the limitation as construed is satisfied in the accused devices. In AVE's stents, a connector member is found at the area where each sinusoidal ring is attached to the next sinusoidal ring. The span of the member along the longitudinal axis of the tubular members of the stent is shorter than the span perpendicular to that axis. Cordis's expert, however, explained that in determining how the connector members are disposed, one should look at what elements are being connected and draw a line between them to see where the relevant axis is. The expert testified that the shape of the connector member is not important and that it does not matter which dimension of the connector member is longer. What is significant, he stated, is the axis along which the member connects the stent elements. He testified that the connector member must be in alignment with the slots so it's connecting the slots together in a longitudinal arrangement, and he explained that the connector member in the accused devices satisfied that requirement. The jury was entitled to credit that testimony and to conclude that AVE's connector members are aligned with the adjacent slots, both of which are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular members.