** Brokerage Needham upgrades rating on Boston Scientific BSX.N to "buy" from "hold"

** Citing a survey of doctors, Needham says "competition is likely to be more benign" than previously expected

** BSX's device Farapulse uses pulsed field ablation technique to treat certain abnormal heart rhythm conditions

** Device got FDA approval in January 2024

** Farapulse initially had a single competitor in the U.S., Medtronic's MDT.N PulseSelect, but doctors strongly preferred BSX's device, according to the survey

** Although brokerage thought the launches of MDT's Affera and Johnson & Johnson's JNJ.N Varipulse would increase competition, supply of Affera remains limited, it said, and there have been stroke risk concerns with Varipulse

** Says BSX's two recent acquisitions of Bolt Medical and SoniVie represent new growth drivers in 2025 and beyond

** As of last close, BSX has risen 5.5%

(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole)

((siddhi.mahatole@thomsonreuters.com))