Its once spectacular revenue growth has slowed to a crawl on stagnant sales for its core cardiac defibrillator and pacemaker products, mounting skepticism over its back-surgery devices and industrywide price pressures.

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However, Maisel said pacemaker and defibrillator patients shouldn't tuck them in their front pockets, drape them over their shoulders or allow a loved one to rest his head on their stomach while mellowing out and listening to an iPod.

CNN: Study: Headphones could interfere with pacemakers