Intuitive Surgical posts a banner Q4; Hologic ahead of schedule after $3.8B Gen-Probe buy;

 @FierceMedDev: Quest posts 24% Q4 profit drop amid restructuring. More | Follow @FierceMedDev

 @DamianFierce: $JNJ knew about hip implant failure concerns two years before recalling the all-metal devices. News | Follow @DamianFierce

> Hologic ($HOLX) is moving ahead of schedule with its integration of Gen-Probe, the diagnostics outfit it bought for $3.8 billion last year. News

> Intuitive Surgical ($ISRG) reported a fourth-quarter income jump of 16%, pulling in $174.9 million, and a 23% rise in revenue, clocking in at $609.3 million. Article

> Argo Medical Technologies has unveiled the latest generation of its ReWalk Rehabilitation exoskeleton, which helps patients learn to walk again. Release

> Bioness snagged FDA clearance for its L300 device, a neuromodulation tech designed to treat pediatric foot drop. Item

> Diagnostics company Meridian Bioscience ($VIVO) posted a Q4 net income increase of 29%, hauling in $8.5 million on $45.4 million in sales. More

> Echo Therapeutics ($ECTE) reported some positive trial results for Symphony, its needle-free continuous glucose monitor, finding that its readings were clinically accurate compared to other devices. News

> Devicemaker nContact got FDA clearance for next-generation atrial fibrillation device. Story

Biotech News

 @FierceBiotech: Allergan bags migraine drug in $1B MAP Pharma buyout. More | Follow @FierceBiotech

@JohnCFierce: Hugin's bold promises on future Celgene revenue faces first test with Abraxane pancreatic cancer OS data. News | | Follow @JohnCFierce

@RyanMFierce: I'm thinking, at best, Jimenez and Reinhardt are frienemies. Should be interesting to see how this pharma marriage goes. | Follow @RyanMFierce

> Novartis dumps a long-faded $500M pact with Cytos. Story

> Watson beefs up R&D effort with $305M women's health buyout. Report

Pharma News

@FiercePharma: Which pharma brands do docs trust most? Advair (GSK), Humira (AbbVie), Enbrel (Amgen/Pfizer) among them, says survey. More | Follow @FiercePharma

 @AlisonBFierce: ow Protein Sciences uses cells from the ovaries of armyworms to make the active ingredient in Flublok. Story | Follow @AlisonBFierce

> Clot-fighter Eliquis wins speedy new backing from NICE. News

> Novartis brings ex-COO home to replace Vasella as chairman. Report

Drug Delivery News

> Amunix hooks Janssen with its XTEN delivery technology. Story

> Study: Biotronik's dissolving stent deemed safe, falls short of Abbott's Absorb. Article

> Phosphagenics oxymorphone pain patch close to clinic. Report

> Nanosphere foam delivers drugs to the bladder. News

Biomarkers News

> Researcher spotlights new biomarker for gliomas. Item

> U.K.-based International Diagnostics Centre brings global diagnostics R&D together. Story

> Bill Gates added to investor list in backing genomic tests startup. Report

> Onconova teams with GVK to take cancer biomarkers to IND phase. News