EndoStim added another tranche to its $16.5 million equity round, according to a regulatory filing, saying it’s added some $11.2 million to its coffers as it develops a pacemaker-like implant to treat gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

The round includes contributions from 67 unnamed investors in 14 states, according to the filing. The EndoStim LES stimulator is designed to deliver electrical current to the lower esophageal sphincter to relieve GERD.

The device is implanted subcutaneously in the abdomen with leads connecting to the lower esophageal sphincter. The system delivers low energy electrical impulses to strengthen a weak or dysfunctional LES muscle, which is the underlying cause of GERD, commonly known as acid reflux disease.

Sign up to get our free newsletters delivered straight to your inbox

In January the St. Louis-based medical device company said it raised $9.1 million. EndoStim won CE Mark approval in the European Union in August 2012 for the device.

 BioHeart lands cash, launches clinical trial
BioHeart (PINK:BHRT) said it’s raised the necessaries to begin the ANGEL trial, a 5-patient Phase I clinical study of its LipiCell adipose-derived stem cell treatment for congestive heart failure, to be conducted in Mexico at the Hospital Angeles with the Regenerative Medicine Institute.
Read more

 Intuitive Surgical announces $1B share buyback
Intuitive Surgical (NSDQ:ISRG) said its board authorized the repurchase of an additional $1 billion worth of its own stock, taking the total available for repurchase to $1.21 billion.
Read more

 NASDAQ warns Stereotaxis, Echo Therapeutics of possible delistings
Stereotaxis (NSDQ:STXS) and Echo Therapeutics (NSDQ:ECTE) each said the NASDAQ stock exchange warned them of possible delistings.

Stereotaxis said the exchange warned it over falling below the $50 million minimum market capitalization rule. ECTE said its warning came for violating the $1-per-share minimum requirement.
Read more

 Stryker closes $1B notes offerings
Stryker (NYSE:SYK) said it closed a public offering of $600 million worth of its 1.3% notes due 2018 Notes”) and $400 million worth of its 4.1% notes due 2043.
Read more

 Analysts’ ups and downs

• Abbott (NYSE:ABT): Zacks upgrades from "underperform" to "neutral" rating, $36 price target.
• Abiomed (NSDQ:ABMD): Zacks reiterates "neutral" rating.
• Bruker Corp. (NSDQ:BRKR): Jefferies upgrades rating from "hold" to "buy" rating, raises price target from $20 to $25.
• Cardinal Health (NYSE:CAH): Citigroup downgrades from "buy" to "neutral" rating, lowers price target from $47 to $43; UBS cuts price target to $50.
• Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW): JP Morgan maintains "neutral" rating, lowers price target from $88 to $82.
• Intuitive Surgical (NSDQ:ISRG): Zacks downgrades from "outperform" to "neutral" rating, $521 price target.
• Optos plc (LON:OPTS): Canaccord Genuity lowers price target from $4.73 to $4.71, "buy" rating; Investec reaffirms "sell" rating, $2.37 price target; N+1 Singer downgrades to a "sell" rating, $2.60 price target; Nplus1 Brewin downgrades to "sell" rating, $2.60 price target; Shore Capital Stockbrokers reaffirms "hold" rating.
• Palomar Medical (NSDQ:PMTI): Maxim downgrades from "buy" to "hold" rating.
• Smith & Nephew (FTSE:SN, NYSE:SNN): Goldman Sachs reaffirms "neutral" rating.
• Stryker (NYSE:SYK): Leerink Swann reiterates "outperform" rating, raises price target to $74 from $61.