An overall bad year ended on a high note as venture deal activity increased in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to a release from Dow Jones. Venture investors put $6.3 billion to work in 743 deals in the most recent quarter, up slightly from the $6.1 billion invested in 619 deals during the same period in 2008. In total, 2009 experienced a 31% drop from 2008.

Medical devices, a sector that has seen increased interest from investors during the latter part of the decade, collected $2.9 billion for 291 deals, down 18% from the previous year.

The healthcare industry collected more of venture capitalists' dollars than the IT industry making it the first year on record that IT was not the venture industry's leading investment sector. Healthcare garnered $7.7 billion which was put into 701 deals in 2009, a 14% drop from the previous year. In the fourth quarter, Healthcare companies raised $2.1 billion in 207 deals, a 15% increase from the same period last year. 

Biopharmaceuticals companies remained the biggest draw in the Healthcare industry as investors put $4.2 billion into 302 deals, an 11% drop from the previous year.