Medtronic (Minneapolis) reported FDA approval and launch of the DF4 High-Voltage Connector System, a right ventricular lead and connector used with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) to detect and accurately treat potentially life-threatening heart rhythms. The DF4 Connector System helps simplify implantation procedures via a redesigned port and provides additional reliability by giving physicians visual confirmation of the lead connection to the device. (Medical Device Daily)

A new study shows that patients treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), have an increasingly better quality of life post treatment when compared to patients receiving other forms of radiation therapy.

Roche (Basel, Switzerland) said that it is proposing to acquire all outstanding shares of Illumina (San Diego) for $44.50 per share in cash, or about $5.7 billion on a fully diluted basis, in what could be the biggest deal in med-tech this year if it happens. If the acquisition is successful, then Roche could take a leading position in the emerging field of DNA sequencing.

Medtronic (Minneapolis) reported the first patient was enrolled in its FIRE AND ICE clinical trial, which is a prospective, randomized, multinational head-to-head clinical trial comparing the long-term safety, effectiveness and ease-of-use of the Medtronic Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation System compared to the Biosense Webster (Diamond Bar, California) Carto System Guided Thermocool Catheter to treat patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.