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.
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) remained the clear front-runner, with updates to ongoing legal battles and an earnings surge prompted by a strong earnings report. Covidien (NYSE:COV) was a surprise 2nd, despite a rather quiet month and only a handful of headlines.
Boston Scientific’s (NYSE:BSX) slid to 3rd with updates on its patent infringement lawsuits, the end of a federal probe and its TAVI system’s entrance to the hot German market. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) followed in 4th with big layoffs in its diabetes business and a legal mega-settlement over its DePuy metal hip implants. GE Healthcare (NYSE:GE) closed out the top 5 with a regulatory win, an acquisition and a commercial deal.

Medtronic
- Medtronic and Boston Scientific head to the Supreme Court today
- Medtronic begins U.S. trial of renal denervation in lower-risk patients
- Supremes seem to lean Medtronic’s way in patent battle with Boston Scientific
- FDA OKs Medtronic lead alert system for Boston Scientific, St. Jude Medical devices
- TV’s Dr. Oz joins Medtronic TAVI lawsuit
- Medtronic to resume German CoreValve sales
- Medtronic’s guidewire recall gets FDA’s highest-risk label
- Medtronic’s next-gen pacemakers help slow heart disease, study says
- Analysts wring hands ahead of Medtronic earnings
- Medtronic’s Q2 profits surge, earnings squeeze past expectations
- Unexpectedly strong ICD sales for Medtronic buoy Boston Scientific
- Appeals court affirms $10M Medtronic loss in catheter patent case
- Medtronic touts early results for Valiant Mona LSA
- Former Medtronic CEO on ‘titanic’ Obamacare troubles
- Medtronic touts 3-year data for Endurant II AAA stent graft

Covidien
- Kardiametrics sues medical device makers over blood clot patents
- Covidien scores Q4, FY2013 earnings beats
- Covidien’s new Florida office to house 165 new workers

Boston Scientific
- Boston Scientific closes $275M buyout of Bard’s electrophysiology unit
- Medtronic and Boston Scientific head to the Supreme Court today
- Mass. DA’s probe into Boston Scientific’s CRM unit is over
- Supremes seem to lean Medtronic’s way in patent battle with Boston Scientific
- FDA OKs Medtronic lead alert system for Boston Scientific, St. Jude Medical devices
- Boston Scientific leads $20M financing round for Sensible Medical
- Boston Scientific’s anti-stroke Watchman heart implant lands a date with the FDA
- Boston Scientific’s TAVI system hits the German market
- Boston Scientific adds dystonia indication to CE Mark for Vercise DBS device
- Unexpectedly strong ICD sales for Medtronic buoy Boston Scientific
- Boston Scientific wins CE Mark, FDA nod for Direxion microcatheter
- Will the FDA’s Circulatory Devices panel OK Boston Scientific’s Watchman heart implant?
- Abiomed loses IR exec to Boston Scientific
- Boston Scientific wins FDA approval for Promus Premier stent

Johnson & Johnson
- Diabetes: J&J loses a round in glucose testing battle with Shasta
- Federal appeals court upholds Spinal Kinetics win over Synthes
- Report: Danaher, Blackstone join forces in hunt for J&J diagnostics unit
- Report: Johnson & Johnson to settle DePuy ASR claims for $4B
- Mela Sciences takes new CEO from Johnson & Johnson, posts lackluster Q3
- Layoffs ahead as Johnson & Johnson retools diabetes unit
- Johnson & Johnson to settle DePuy ASR lawsuits for $2.5B
- Johnson & Johnson confirms $2.5B hip lawsuit settlement, consumers group wants more
- J&J’s Ethicon teams up with Megadyne on electrosurgery products
- Did patients draw the short stick in $2.5B J&J metal hip settlement?

GE Healthcare