Realizing the promise of AI for medical imaging and diagnosis

Alissa Hsu Lynch, global lead for MedTech Strategy & Solutions at Google Cloud, explains how medtech companies can benefit from applying AI to the explosion of medical imaging data.

CT scans offer new path to diagnose treatable cause of high blood pressure, study shows

While the approach could increase demand for CT imaging, the supply of radioactive tracers is potentially a barrier to adoption of the technique.

Deep learning may improve triaging of people with acute chest pain, study shows

The researchers trained a model to find signs in scans that a person may have a serious cardiovascular condition.

Abbott’s FDA approval for TAVI device tees up challenge to Edwards, Medtronic: analysts

Abbott has captured about 9% of the European market and aims to become a “credible third player” in the U.S.

Bayer to buy AI imaging platform Blackford Analysis to bolster radiology growth strategy

Bayer aims to outpace the broader radiology segment by investing in fast-growing technologies such as imaging AI.

Updated Jan. 18, 2023

Shockwave to pay $100M for Neovasc, adding refractory angina treatment to device pipeline

Neovasc already has a CE mark for the device and last year said it was targeting a 2025 approval by the FDA.

Medtech companies start 2023 on ‘optimistic’ note amid earnings forecasts, staffing: J.P. Morgan

Executive comments at the healthcare conference in San Francisco suggest companies expect staffing pressures and supply constraints to improve in 2023, analysts say.

AI predicts lung cancer risk six years into the future using single CT scan: study

A research team has made the deep learning model publicly available and says it has no intention to commercialize it.

‘Mixed signals’ from medtech management suggest industry had bumpy end to 2022: analysts

The recovery of procedure volumes was “muted and uneven” in the fourth quarter with growth throttled by hospital staffing issues and worker absenteeism.

iRhythm shows signs of progress even as it ‘still has a way to go’ on key challenges: William Blair

The company should come close to its revenue estimate when reporting fourth quarter results, according to analysts.

Akili cuts 30% of staff to focus cash on growing prescription video game sales

The move comes as the company seeks a path forward after sales of $82,000 in the third quarter. Over the last five months, its share price has fallen 90%.

Apple Watch infringed on Masimo patent, judge rules, raising prospect of import ban

Masimo’s CEO said the ruling “exposes Apple as a company that takes other companies’ innovations and repackages them.”

Updated Jan. 12, 2023

Olympus gets two FDA warning letters over safety of reprocessed endoscopes

The regulator said the companies didn’t adequately test the device assembly process and waited too long to report problems from complaints.

Google sibling Verily to lay off about 200 workers as it focuses on precision risk business

The company, which has more than 1,600 employees, will stop work on some products including its healthcare analytics software program.

Intuitive forecasts 12%-16% growth in procedures in 2023 even as da Vinci robot sales slowed in Q4

For hospitals that have been reporting growth in robotic procedures, “da Vinci is a relative priority in their capital budgets,” the company said.

Rethinking 510(k): Studies show risk of using recalled devices as predicates for FDA clearance

Two studies found devices cleared through the FDA’s 510(k) pathway that listed recalled predicate devices were more likely to face recalls themselves. 

Sterigenics reaches $408M ethylene oxide settlement to resolve hundreds of lawsuits in Illinois

Sterigenics said “years of biased media coverage in the greater Chicago area” underpinned its decision to settle.

GE HealthCare to buy France’s IMACTIS in first acquisition as independent firm

IMACTIS’s CT-Navigation system is used to help surgeons in minimally invasive operations and reduce procedure time. 

Cue Health lays off 388 people as demand falls for COVID-19 tests

Cue is reducing its headcount by 26% after laying off 170 employees last June. 

ResMed responds to ‘humanitarian emergency’ over demand for CPAP devices with new factory

The company has scaled up its manufacturing capacity and struck agreements with chip suppliers even as patients still face waits for the devices amid ongoing recall woes at Philips.

How Abbott plans to make its Freestyle Libre a $10B product

CEO Robert Ford discussed plans to grow the market for Abbott’s continuous glucose monitors, and its broader diabetes strategy.

Guardant Health posts revenue growth in Q4 on higher clinical testing volumes

The oncology diagnostics company’s preliminary results beat analyst estimates.

Medtronic CEO Martha: No more divestitures planned for 2023, but review continues

“The portfolio review is ongoing,” CEO Geoff Martha said, even as the world's largest medtech company plans to divest dialysis, respiratory interventions and patient monitoring businesses.

Cardiac wearable maker iRhythm sees ‘nice progress’ in recovering from Q3 challenges

The company reported more than 20% growth in patient registration and improvement in its returned device rate.

Beta Bionics hires Harvard diabetes expert as CMO ahead of artificial pancreas launch

Steven Russell has joined the company as chief medical officer, completing a new leadership team that began taking shape with the appointment of Sean Saint as CEO last year.