Defective wires in defibrillators have caused at least 20 patient deaths, according to research in a leading cardiology journal. St. Jude stopped selling the devices in 2010 because of safety concerns but tens of thousands of people still have the implants, the AP reports. St. Jude is challenging the findings.

Design changes to a key Little Canada-based St. Jude Medical Inc. heart device, including an added layer of insulation to reduce the risk of abrasions, do not prevent defects that could lead to device failure and death. That's according to prominent cardiologist Robert Hauser of Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis who made the comments in a study published in the medical journal Europace. He tells the Pioneer Press, "I can't say the Durata lead is bad. I just can't say that it's good."

St. Jude Medical, Inc. reported a 22 percent drop in profits for the third quarter, MarketWatch reports. The Little Canada-based medical equipment supplier and manufacturer posted a profit of $176 million, down from $227 million a year ago.

Money wire services stopped taking cash bound for Somalia. The action comes after Sunrise Community Bank refused to continue the service, fearing they would be breaking U.S. law if the money ended up in the hands of terrorists.

The Food and Drug Administration okayed the Little Canada-based company's Assura portfolio of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices. The new line is said to have "advanced sensing options designed to reduce the incidence of inappropriate shocks."