FDA APPROVES GUIDANT'S NEW DEFIBRILLATOR

The FDA recently approved a new implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), developed by Guidant.

The Vitality HE device is capable of delivering more energy than Guidant's previous ICDs, the company said. These devices are used to shock a dangerously irregular heartbeat back to normal. Guidant will launch the new ICD this month.