Say hello to MassDevice +7, a bite-sized view of the top seven med-tech stories of the week. This latest feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our seven biggest and most influential stories from the week’s news to make sure you’re up to date on the headlines that continue to shape the medical device industry.
If you read nothing else this weekend, make sure you’re still in the know with MassDevice +7.
7. St. Jude Medical asks Heart Rhythm Society for retraction
It began with St. Jude Medical (NYSE:STJ) asking the journal of the Heart Rhythm Society to retract a study linking its recalled Riata defibrillator leads with 22 deaths.
6. STJ CEO Starks: Medtronic’s behind "whisper campaign"
It continued with an all-out PR blitz that had St. Jude CEO Daniel Starks accusing arch-rival Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) of fomenting an anti-Durata "whisper campaign."
5. Medtronic weighs in
Starks’ claims goad Medtronic into releasing its own analysis confirming the Heart Rhythm report’s numbers on its own Quattro leads.
4. St. Jude responds
St. Jude responds by publishing the details on the 377 deaths its own analysis links to Medtronic’s Quattro
3. Heart Rhythm Society: No retraction
The Heart Rhythm Society rebuffs St. Jude Medical’s retraction request.
2. "I can’t recall seeing a more contentious dispute
"I can’t recall seeing a more contentious and open dispute between medical device companies in my 19 years working in this field." — Dr. Edward Schloss, director of cardiac electrophysiology, Christ Hospital, Cincinnati
1. STJ gets tangled in its own rope over Riata
Doctors and investors back away over St. Jude’s pugilistic handling of the affair.