Irvine-based heart valve maker Edwards Lifesciences Corp. is paying $27 million for heart surgery products from Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon unit.
The company, the leading maker of heart valves, is buying catheters, retractors and other devices from Ethicon.
The products allow surgeons to perform heart valve operations through small openings in the spaces between the ribs, rather than opening a patient’s chest. They’re expected to generate sales of $20 million in 2008.
Wall Street expects sales of $1.15 billion for Edwards next year.
The company sees the buy adding to profits after 2008. The deal is set to close by the end of the year.
