DOW JONES NEWSWIRES Medtronic Inc. (MDT) said a clinical trial of its cardiac devices showed detection time in the devices can be extended without risking the health of patients, findings it called "significant." The study evaluated patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators, commonly known as ICDs, and cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation. Patients were separated into two groups, one with an extended detection time and another with standard detection intervals. Medtronic said the study met its primary endpoint by demonstrating a 37% reduction in therapies, including all-cause shocks, in the extended-detection patient group. Additionally, mortality and fainting were low and weren't significantly different between the two patient groups. "These findings are significant, as they provide solid evidence confirming earlier studies demonstrating that this longer detection window is safe and effective for ICD recipients, including, for the first time, secondary prevention patients," said Maurizio Gasparini, a study investigator. ICDs are implantable devices that monitor the heart and deliver a shock to it if it falls into an abnormal rhythm. Medtronic has seen challenges of late in its cardiac-rhythm business, posting a 9% drop in ICD sales in the latest period. Shares were recently up 1.3% to $38.51. -By Mia Lamar, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-3207; mia.lamar@dowjones.com
