The medical device industry was full of big stories in 2012, ranging from efforts to bring down the device tax and related layoffs to epic public face-offs between industry leaders.
MassDevice.com looked at some of the most talked-about medical device companies of the past year, based on trends in U.S. Google searches for the last 30 days.
Medical device giant Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) was by far the most talked-about medtech company of 2012, more than doubling the search rating of the next-highest rated, St. Jude Medical (NYSE:STJ).
Covidien (NYSE:COV) and Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) followed pretty closely behind, with Allergan (NYSE:AGN) rounding out the list.
Check out some of our biggest stories of the year:
- Layoffs: Medtronic to cut another 500 jobs in hopes of saving $125M per year – September 6
- Are Medtronic’s CRM layoffs a sign of a prolonged slump? – May 2
- MassDevice.com Q&A: Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak – January 10
- Medtronic’s CRM and spine units continue to struggle, layoffs ahead – May 22
- Twitter: Medtronic CEO Ishrak’s mission in 140 characters or less – August 1
- St. Jude announces layoffs, restructuring and an executive shuffle following bleak quarter – August 30
- St. Jude Medical recalls Eon, Eon Mini pain management implants on battery, charging issues – July 31
- St. Jude yanks Brio deep brain stimulator – March 29
- Heart doc on St. Jude, MDT Riata fight: “I can’t recall seeing a more contentious” dispute – April 10
- St. Jude Medical’s deal with Optim lead insulation maker AorTech is in trouble – October 9
- Covidien denies layoffs tied to device tax – May 10
- Covidien recalls Duet stapling system after 13 injuries and 3 deaths – January 16
- Covidien jumps into the high blood pressure arena with CE Mark in hand through $230M Maya merger – May 8
- Covidien grabs Newport Medical Instruments for $108 million – March 22
- Covidien confirms superDimension buyout – March 19
- Is Boston Scientific in line for a private equity takeover? – February 24
- Boston Scientific shakeup: Layoffs and restructuring ahead for cardiac business – August 30
- Boston Scientific to hit the acquisitions trail – February 6
- Wall Street: Boston Scientific shares hit lowest level in nearly 20 years – July 26
- Boston Scientific reveals California AG probe, whistleblower suit – November 7
- What can the medical device world learn from medical aesthetics? A conversation with Allergan’s David Pyott – October 8
- Weight loss: Allergan reveals HHS probe into Lab-Band – May 8
- Obesity: Allergan may sell Lap-Band business – October 30
- Allergan back-tracks on Lap-Band for obese teens – date
- Earnings: Allergan sheds poor lap-band sales, stays pretty in Q2 – August 1
