The same panel on Tuesday voted in favor of rival ReCor's device for use in a surgery called renal denervation in patients whose high blood pressure cannot be controlled by drugs. Separately, while all panel members voted the device was safe to use, 6 of 13 voted against its effectiveness. Japan-based Otsuka Holdings' (4578.T) unit ReCor's device was shown to provide a benefit in lowering blood pressure in clinical trials. Medtronic's device helped to lower blood pressure at the doctor's clinic but not at home, which is considered a more accurate measure of blood pressure monitoring. The company was seeking the health regulator's nod for the device indicated for patients whose hypertension, or high blood pressure, cannot be controlled with drugs.

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Persons: Andrew Kelly, Jason Weidman, Sriparna Roy, Krishna Chandra Eluri Organizations: Food and Drug Administration, FDA, REUTERS, U.S . Food, Wednesday, Otsuka Holdings, Thomson Locations: White Oak , Maryland, U.S, Japan, Europe, Bengaluru