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. Integra LifeSciences closes MicroFrance, Xomed buy from Medtronic

Integra LifeSciences said today that it closed its $60 million acquisition of Medtronic’s MicroFrance and Xomed manual ENT and laparoscopy instrument lines.

The deal includes a plant in St. Aubin le Monial, France, where the MicroFrance business makes the Xomed line. Integra said it will end up with roughly 4,000 MicroFrance and Xomed manual ENT and laparoscopic surgical instruments once the deal closes, expected during the 4th quarter. Read more

2. FDA approves St. Jude Medical’s TactiCath Quartz force-sensing catheter

St. Jude Medical said the FDA approved its TactiCath Quartz cardiac ablation catheter for treating atrial fibrillation, which St. Jude acquired when it snapped up Endosense last year.

The St. Paul, Minn.-based medical device company paid $170 million in up front cash to acquire Endosense in August 2013. Read more

1. Covidien plans to sell some vascular therapies ahead of Medtronic merger

Covidien said that it will likely divest some of its vascular therapies business to satisfy U.S. anti-trust regulators ahead of its proposed, $43 billion merger with Medtronic.

The divestitures prompted Mansfield, Mass.-based Covidien to log a pre-tax impairment charge of $90 million to $125 million with its 4th-quarter results, according to a regulatory filing. Read more