MassDevice.com looked at some of the most talked-about medical device companies, based on trends in U.S. Google searches for the last 30 days.

Medical device giant Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) managed to maintain its seat at the top of the internet chatter pyramid last month, with a long stream of stories about the company’s partnerships, legal travails and expansions into emerging markets.

Healthcare titan Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) remained the runner-up, with progress on subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics’ hip lawsuits and new centers to pursue innovation. Covidien (NYSE:COV) defended its 3rd place title with regulatory ups and downs.

Aesthetics devices maker Allergan (NYSE:AGN) made a surprise entry on the list, its 1st since MassDevice.com began counting Google’s trends. The company didn’t make many official announcements, but the controversy over its push to win regulatory approval for bariatric surgery for teens certainly drew attention.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) rounded out the list with an impending acquisition, legal news and new codes for its Alair asthma treatment system.

Medtronic

• Medtronic diabetes devices merge with Bayer’s new glucometer – Sept. 5
• Medtronic: Defibrillator market is stabilizing – Sept. 6
• Medtronic to cut another 500 jobs in hopes of saving $125M per year – Sept. 6
• More legal troubles for Medtronic? – Sept. 6
• Medtronic CFO: Size matters – Sept. 11
• More good news from Medtronic’s Symplicity high blood pressure trial – Sept. 13
• Medtronic looks for Alzheimer’s research partner – Sept. 17
• Medtronic analyzes CRM care in 9 emerging markets – Sept. 20
• Lawyers trade barbs in Medtronic pain pump lawsuit – Sept. 20
• Medtronic promises $6M for India diabetes, heart disease research – Sept. 21
• Medtronic touts Euro win for Affinity Fusion system – Sept. 24
• Medtronic’s Ishrak welcomes Asian hospital group director to board – Sept. 24
• Medtronic lands EU win for smallest CoreValve replacement heart valve
  – Sept. 26
• Medtronic to drop $816M on China Kanghui Holdings – Sept. 28
• Medtronic confirms launch of diabetic-friendly Resolute Integrity stent in India – Sept. 28

Johnson & Johnson

• Hip lawsuit update: Judge orders J&J and litigants to work together – Sept. 4
• DePuy execs to testify in hip implant recall trials – Sept. 10
• Plaintiffs look to depose new Johnson & Johnson CEO Gorsky in DePuy ASR lawsuit – Sept. 13
• Johnson & Johnson builds new centers to pick up early-stage innovators – Sept. 19
• Ex-DePuy Orthopaedics sales rep sues over non-compete – Sept. 20

Covidien

• Covidien, Preventice, Precision Spine win FDA clearances – Sept. 11
• Covidien to shutter South Carolina plant, cutting 595 jobs – Sept. 13
• U.K. issues new alert on Covidien breathing tube recall – Sept. 20
• Covidien forebear Tyco pays $26M to settle overseas bribery beef – Sept. 24

Allergan

• Bariatric surgery’s benefits last for 6 years – Sept. 20
• Rising U.S. obesity drives new suites of medical devices – Sept. 21
• Weight-loss: Researchers recommend bariatric surgery for obese teens – Sept. 27

Boston Scientific

• For Boston Scientific, the growth cup is half full – Sept. 12
• Body Science sues Boston Scientific over Latitude technology – Sept. 14
• Boston Scientific lands cardiac patent win over Medtronic – Sept. 18
• Boston Scientific to buy BridgePoint Medical – Sept. 19
• Asthma: Boston Scientific wins new insurance codes for Alair system – Sept. 20
• FDA OKs Boston Scientific’s Emerge PTCA balloon dilation catheter – Sept. 27
• Body Science lawsuits against Boston Scientific, Philips moved to Mass. – Sept. 28