Boston Scientific gets subpoena over defibrillators

(Reuters) – Medical device maker Boston Scientific Corp said it received a subpoena this week from the Department of Health and Human Services seeking information about the performance of some of its implanted defibrillators. The subpoena, received on May 5, requested information related to the 2008 launch of two brands of implanted cardioverter defibrillators made by Boston Scientific, the company said in a regulatory filing on Thursday. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or ICDs, treat arrhythmias by shocking a dangerously racing heartbeat back into a normal rhythm. Boston Scientific, which competes with Medtronic Inc and St. Jude Medical Inc in selling ICDs, said it is cooperating with the request.