Medtronic post higher quarterly earnings

Aug 21 (Reuters) - Medical device maker Medtronic Inc on Tuesday reported higher quarterly earnings as salesin its smaller divisions outweighed continued weakness in itskey cardiac rhythm management unit.

Net earnings rose to $864 million, or 83 cents per dilutedshare, in its fiscal first quarter ended July 27, from $821million, or 77 cents per diluted share, in the year ago period.

Quarterly sales increased to $4.01 billion from $3.95billion a year ago.