Summary Box: Boston Scientific Swings To Profit

PROFIT RETURNS: Boston Scientific Corp., which specializes in heart devices, reported a return to profitability in the last quarter of 2010 due to lower one-time expenses.

SALES SLIDE: The performance was enough to beat Wall Street estimates, though sales of the company's key products, defibrillators and stents, fell 4 percent.

TOUGH ROAD AHEAD: Boston Scientific executives said they expects 2011 to be a "difficult but necessary transition year," as the weak economy continues to squeeze hospital purchases and procedures.