Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — Medtronic Inc. said Tuesday the Food and Drug Administration gave extended approval for a type of implantable heart device that is used to treat heart failure.
The company said it can now market the cardiac resynchronization therapy devices for patients who have heart failure but are experiencing only mild symptoms. The devices are made up of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD, which treat rapid heartbeats, and a resynchronization device, which is used to coordinate the pumping action of the heart.
The devices were previously approved to treat some patients with moderate to severe heart failure. Medtronic said around 200,000 U.S. patients fit the new guidelines for the devices.
Shares of Medtronic slipped 12 cents to $37.63 in afternoon trading.