Medtronic Inc. (NYSE: MDT) said Thursday that it will acquire ATS Medical Inc. (NASDAQ: ATSI) for $370 million in cash and debt, a move that further expands the medical device’s giant foray into the fast growing market for products that treat structural heart disease.Medtronic, based in Fridley, Minnesota, will pay $4 for each share of [...]

Cardiology device maker ATS Medical Inc. (Nasdaq: ATSI) reported the first commercial implant in China of its stentless heart valve.The procedure marks an important milestone for ATS as the company tries to strengthen its position in China, which has the potential to be the largest valve replacement market in the world within the next 10 [...]

Cardiology device maker ATS Medical Inc. has received Canadian regulatory approval to sell a heart valve repair product line.ATS’ Simulus product line includes plastic bands that can be used to repair the mitral valve, which is located between the heart’s left chambers and allows blood flow in, and the tricuspid valve, which prevents the back [...]

The GAMC program provides health insurance to roughly 35,000 poor single adults at any given time, many of whom suffer from mental illness and chemical addiction.

That bodes well for Minnesota’s publicly traded medical device companies, including St. Jude Medical Inc., SurModics Inc. and Rochester Medical Corp., which were among the first to begin reporting fourth-quarter and yearly results last week.

Chief Executive Michael Dale called the procedures a “major milestone” for the company, which eventually hopes to bring the valve to the traditional surgery market.

Cardiology device maker ATS Medical Inc. saw its stock plummet 17 percent in early afternoon trading Tuesday, a day after the company announced that it expects losses for the fourth quarter and full year of 2009.

Rhythmia is developing a device used to treat heart arrhythmia or abnormal beating, a condition that can lead to heart disease and stroke.

Cardiology device maker ATS Medical Inc. has been issued a patent for technology used in implantable devices that involves a laser-based system for cutting tissues.

The company says the device allows for less-invasive aortic valve replacement and shorter procedure times than other commercially available alternatives.