The European Commission said on Friday it had cleared plans by Bermuda-registered Tyco International Ltd. to gain control of the US company C.R. Bard Inc., which manufactures and supplies diagnostic and medical devices.

The Commission said the deal would lead to certain overlaps in the medical devices sector in Western Europe in particular areas.

"However, the Commission's investigation has shown that Tyco would not achieve a dominant position given the presence of significant pan-European players on all the markets concerned,'' Commission said in a statement.