Heartware International may be an unintended beneficiary of the proposed mega-merger between Abbott Laboratories and St. Jude Medical Inc., according to at least one analyst. Jason Mills, of Canaccord Genuity Inc., said in a research note the deal is positive for Heartware because it creates a more level playing field in the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) market and it will make Heartware a more attractive asset for other players looking to compete against the combined Abbott-St. Jude entity across the cardiovascular space.