Businessweek

Medtronic, Inc. operates in the field of medical technology. The company provides products and therapies for use by medical professionals to meet the health care needs of their patients. It serves hospitals, physicians, clinicians, and patients in approximately 120 countries worldwide. Segments The company operates in two segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group comprising Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management (CRDM) and CardioVascular; and Restorative Therapies Group comprising Spinal, Neuromodulation, Diabetes, and Surgical Technologies. CARDIAC AND VASCULAR GROUP Cardiac Rhythm Disease Management (CRDM) CRDM develops, manufactures, and markets products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of heart rhythm disorders and heart failure, including implantable devices, leads and delivery systems, products for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), and information systems for the management of patients with CRDM devices. The following are the principal products offered by CRDM business: Implantable Cardiac Pacemakers (Pacemakers): A pacemaker is a battery-powered device implanted in the chest that delivers electrical impulses to treat bradycardia, a condition of abnormally slow heart rhythms, usually approximately 60 beats per minute, or unsteady heart rhythms that cause symptoms, such as dizziness, fainting, fatigue, and shortness of breath. The company’s new generation of pacemaker systems is compatible with certain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines. This includes the Revo MRI SureScan with United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) approval and the Advisa and Ensura MRI SureScan models with Conformite Europeene (CE) Mark approval. The company also markets the Adapta product family, which includes the Adapta, Versa, Sensia, and Relia models. Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs): An ICD continually monitors the heart and delivers therapy when an abnormal heart rhythm, such as tachyarrhythmia, or rapid heart rhythm, occurs and leads to sudden cardiac arrest. The company's new generation of ICDs is the Protecta family with SmartShock technology, including the Lead Integrity Alert, a technology designed to improve the detection of lead fractures. Devices in the ICD family are the Protecta XT, Protecta, Cardia, and Egida models. The company also markets the Secura and Maximo II devices. Medtronic ICDs are designed to work with the Sprint Quattro defibrillation leads. Ds and CRT-Ps): Implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy devices may be combined with defibrillation (CRT-D) or be pacing-only (CRT-P). These devices treat heart failure patients by altering the abnormal electrical sequence of cardiac contractions by sending tiny electrical impulses to the lower chambers of the heart to help them beat in a synchronized fashion. AF Products: The company’s portfolio of AF products includes the Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter designed specifically to treat paroxysmal AF by performing pulmonary vein isolation. Additionally, it has a portfolio of anatomically-shaped ablation catheters that use a duty cycled, phased radio frequency energy system for the treatment of permanent and persistent AF. The company also offers the Reveal XT Insertable Cardiac Monitor, which is designed to identify and quantify episodes of AF. Diagnostics and Monitoring Devices: The Reveal DX and Reveal XT Insertable Cardiac Monitors are small, memory-stick sized devices that are placed under the skin and can continuously monitor the heart. The devices are used to record the heart’s electrical activity before, during, and after transient symptoms, such as syncope (i.e., fainting) and palpitations to help provide a diagnosis. The new generation product, Reveal XT, adds the capability to detect AF and provides long-term trending information to help inform the ongoing management of AF. Patient Management Tools: The company has various patient management tools, such as CareLink, Paceart, and CardioSight Service. Customers: The primary medical specialists who use CRDM products include electrophysiologists, implanting cardiologists, heart failure specialists, and cardiovascular su