There was something for nearly everyone in yesterday's earnings release from Kinetic Concepts (NYSE:KCI). The three segments ran the gamut of what's possible in this economy.

Like Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG), Natus Medical (NASDAQ:BABY), and other companies selling equipment to hospitals, Kinetic Concepts had trouble getting hospitals to buy its therapeutic support systems (aka souped-up medical beds). Sales fell 14%, some of which was due to currency differences, but hospital capital spending definitely isn't what it used to be.

Kinetic Concepts' largest segment, V.A.C. therapy, didn't have the same kind of issues because it rents its wound-healing equipment to hospitals, and spending on the therapy isn't as easily deferred. Demand for the V.A.C. was up, but revenue fell 1.1% from the year-ago quarter because of changes in currency and lower reimbursement rates, as more patients came from programs like Medicare that typically reimburse at a lower level.

And then there's Kinetic Concepts' regenerative medicine products, acquired in last year's purchase of Life Cell. Revenue for the quarter was 22% higher than Life Cell experienced last year. The launch of Strattice, its regenerative tissue matrix, was the main contributor to growth, accounting for 25% of total sales of regenerative medicine. The only down side to the regenerative medicine products was that the launch in Europe is going slowly and didn't contribute anything to sales in the first quarter. Of course that means there's still upside left in the product.

So you've got an Intuitive Surgical; an Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) with necessary products but paltry growth; and Onyx Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ONXX), with a relatively new product on the market that’s still growing strong, all rolled up into one. How did the bottom line shake out when you combine them all together? Not so great; earnings per share fell 40% on a GAAP basis, but much of the difference was due to increased interest expenses the company took on to acquire Life Cell. With the Life Cell products growing quickly and sporting higher gross margins, Kinetic Concepts should have the cash to continue paying down that debt, which should increase earnings.

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