Say hello to MassDevice +3, a bite-sized view of the top three medtech stories of the day. This feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our 3 biggest and most influential stories from the day’s news to make sure you’re up to date on the headlines that continue to shape the medical device industry.

 

3. Report: Docs excuse iffy procedures when money is on the line

MASSDEVICE ON CALL — A survey of U.S. medical groups found that few are willing to criticize uncertain treatments that put money in their members’ pockets.

When asked about potentially needless procedures, most doc groups cited treatments that were rarely used in practice or named procedures belonging to specialties other than their own. Most stood behind treatments that are considered uncertain yet lucrative, according to a joint report by Kaiser Health News and the Chicago Tribune. Read more

2. St. Jude Medical beats The Street, loses points anyway

Minnesota medtech titan St. Jude Medical lost a few points on Wall Street today after posting 1st quarter earnings a penny above analysts’ consensus estimate.

STJ shares dropped as much as 4.5% in morning trading, crawling back up to trade at $61.66 as of about 12:05 p.m. EST, still a 2.6% slide on the day. Read more

1. Boston Scientific lands FDA approval for next-gen heart devices

Boston Scientific announced this week that it won FDA approval for its newest suite of cardiac devices, including next-generation defibrillators and heart failure devices.

The newly approved Dynagen Mini and Inogen Mini implantable cardioverter defibrillators are the “world’s smallest and thinnest devices,” according to a Boston Scientific press release. The devices are as much as 20% smaller by volume and nearly a quarter thinner than competing devices on the market, the company said. Read more