Jon Kamp of Dow Jones recently released an earnings preview of several medical device firms. He characterizes the sector as "steady," wth only one notable exception. 

Kamp says that Boston Scientific Corp.'s U.S. defibrillator sales halt will be a key topic during the first-quarter reporting season. The halt raises questions about lasting market-share changes that could hurt Boston Scientific and benefit rivals Medtronic Inc. and St. Jude Medical Inc.

Besides the three defibrillator firms, the article provides a brief overview of Stryker and Intuitive Surgical. Key issues for Stryker, says the report is that the company will rely on the ipprovement of hospital spending on items such as beds and stretchers. It also says that replacement hips and knees will continue to be strong in the United States, but weak in Europe. For Intuitive Surgical, the company's success in selling its expensive da Vinci, even during economic recession, bodes well for the firm.