INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Medical device maker Guidant Corp. on Friday night accepted an increased $24.2 billion buyout offer from Johnson & Johnson, turning aside the latest $24.9 billion offer from Boston Scientific Corp.

The announcement of J&J’s bid and Guidant’s acceptance came about 24 hours after Boston Scientific increased its offer, and about three hours after passage of a deadline that Boston Scientific had set for Guidant to respond.

The boards of both J&J and Guidant have unanimously approved the new J&J offer, which is to be voted on by Guidant shareholders Jan. 31, the companies said. Guidant’s board had previously accepted J&J’s earlier $23.2 billion offer presented Wednesday night, but Boston Scientific’s move to raise its proposal Thursday night prompted J&J to increase its bid yet again.

The announcement left Boston Scientific facing the prospect of perhaps increasing its offer yet again – possibly to a level that would leave it with an uncomfortable amount of debt.

Boston Scientific also could press its case directly to Guidant’s shareholders in hopes of reshaping the company’s board to bring in members who embrace its bid, or walk away.