Guidant emerged as one of the important device companies, all but creating the interventional cardiology business and playing a major role in the evolution of cardiac rhythm management. One person stood behind all of these accomplishments and guided Guidant virtually to its end: Ron Dollens, who retired as CEO last year just before the sale of the company to Boston Scientific was made final. Dollens talks about his career at Eli Lilly and Guidant and about his-and Guidant's-final days.

Although big companies grabbed the headlines with problems, 2006 proved to be a strong year for the medical device industry and growth prospects look strong. Our selection of the device industry highlights of 2006 includes: Boston Scientific-Guidant deal: the winner may be Abbott; Device IPO market remains strong; Drug-eluting stent safety debate; Conflicts of interest: (physician relationships with companies); The bid for Biomet; VC Pendulum shifts towards medical devices; Kyphon bids for St. Francis; and Diagnostic imaging and in vitro diagnostics converge.

Just three years ago bioabsorbable stents seemed to be more of a "nice to have" than a "need to have." After all,drug-eluting stents (DES) were seen as the answer to restenosis and showed very minimal risks to patient safety. But the recent concerns over DES have start-ups and corporations pushing harder for bioabsorbable stents.