Health AI startups netted a record $4B in funding last year

That's a nearly 50% jump in cash from 2018, which saw almost $2.7 billion across 264 deals, according to CB Insights.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 23, 2020

Medical device sales flat, J&J CEO promises big year for robots

A Medical Device Business Review Day scheduled for this spring in New York City will feature "tangible evidence of not only the machines, but also the digital platform component," Alex Gorsky said of J&J's robotic surgery ventures.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Updated Jan. 23, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from MedTech Dive

From haphazard layoffs at the Food and Drug Administration to the industry’s current IPO environment and tracking FDA-authorized AI devices, here is a collection of top stories from MedTech Dive.

By MedTech Dive staff

Health IT to lead 2020 deals, KPMG predicts

The repeal of the medical device tax could boost investor interest in hot areas like non-invasive diagnostics, robotic surgery and AI-enabled devices, although health IT, pharma and biotech appear to be drawing more excitement.

By Linda Wilson • Jan. 15, 2020

Alphabet snaps up 2nd ex-ONC head for life sciences team

Vindell Washington is the latest in Alphabet's ongoing campaign to hire top healthcare talent as the Google parent company doubles down on the industry.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 10, 2020

Digital health M&A flatlines in 2019, but IPO activity promising

Rock Health sees creation of remote patient monitoring reimbursement codes, progress on data blocking rules and FDA's Pre-Cert program as potential growth catalysts for the sector.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 8, 2020

Latest FDA clinical decision support software draft a step forward, industry says

The American Medical Association wrote the guide could "lead to the proliferation of CDS tools for 'non-serious conditions' that are faulty, inaccurate, and without validation, potentially leading to patient harm."

By David Lim • Jan. 7, 2020

AI-based heart failure screening from Eko, Mayo Clinic earns FDA breakthrough nod

Digital health company Eko is working with the Mayo Clinic on an algorithm to detect reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, an indicator for heart failure, using a stethoscope during a routine physical exam.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 19, 2019

Medtronic acquires meal detection tech to bolster personalized closed loop system

Klue's fine motor artificial intelligence software that can sense eating will help future diabetes management systems become hands free, the company said.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 18, 2019

Livongo, Propeller, Omada tapped for Express Scripts digital health formulary

The PBM presented the formulary as a way for health plans and employers to access digital health products that have been vetted for effectiveness, security and value.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Dec. 13, 2019

Digital assistant Notable nets large system deal with CommonSpirit

Notable's voice-enabled assistant allows physicians to automatically document conversations with patients via their Apple Watch. Voice-to-text and AI products are fueling growth in the lucrative medical documentation space.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 12, 2019

Sanofi pulls back from 'over-invested' virtual diabetes care venture with Verily

"We recently restructured its ownership with Sanofi to enable Onduo and Verily to move faster, invest more and serve a much broader population of patients managing multiple chronic conditions," Verily said.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Updated Dec. 12, 2019

Dexcom app outage highlights communication pitfalls for device makers

"This isn't the main course of what Dexcom offers. It's a side dish," said one parent of a child with Type 1 diabetes. "A good portion of our community has looked at it as a main course."​

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 10, 2019

Rivalry of the Year: Abbott and Dexcom's race to dominate CGM

As tech-led diabetes management becomes more mainstream, the "lead horses" in continuous glucose monitor manufacturing have committed to multiplying production capacity and are eyeing expansion into new populations.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 9, 2019

Sens. Wyden, Booker push CMS, FTC, insurers on bias in algorithms

The lawmakers want an investigation into how use of the algorithms may lead to discrimination against marginalized populations.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 4, 2019

Dexcom server outage rocks Type 1 diabetes community

The company announced late Monday it has restored services for its Dexcom Follow app to "near normal performance." Dexcom said it will work to improve communication methods with its customers.

By David Lim • Updated Dec. 3, 2019

5 insights into Dexcom's year ahead from CEO Kevin Sayer

The diabetes tech giant has "not turned on the faucet full blast" in marketing to new customers. Sayer told MedTech Dive he plans to change that as Dexcom quadruples its sensor production capacity for its continuous glucose monitors.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 25, 2019

Landmark Apple Watch AFib study has mixed results

Researchers touted an apparent low incidence of false positives, but many who didn't receive a notification were subsequently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

By David Lim • Nov. 14, 2019

Nascent digital therapeutics group defines best practices, ethics code

The two-year-old group is looking to distinguish higher-risk products that claim to prevent, manage or treat a disease from more general digital health lifestyle and wellness apps.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 13, 2019

Paige gets CE mark for prostate cancer detection technology

The software is designed to make it easier for pathologists to analyze biopsies for signs of cancer.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 13, 2019

After stumble, diabetes drives Livongo to top Q3 estimates

A triple-digit jump in diabetes members helped the digital health firm beat and raise expectations.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 7, 2019

Retail makes its case, telehealth and voice tech dominate: 6 takeaways from HLTH19

Consumerism has its limits, interoperability rules face execution challenges and more from Las Vegas.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 6, 2019

1st round picks in AI challenge include Mayo, Merck, IBM

CMS said more than 300 organizations applied for the challenge to develop AI tools that can predict unplanned hospital admissions and adverse events as well as methods to help clinicians use data to improve quality.

By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 4, 2019

Google to acquire Fitbit in $2.1B deal, challenging Apple

The deal deepens the big tech's position in healthcare, giving it a line of wearables that could assess conditions like atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 1, 2019

Warren, Murray, Smith redouble scrutiny of FDA over Pre-Cert safety, authority

FDA maintains it has the statutory authority to conduct the software Pre-Cert pilot, but acknowledged it will need help from Congress to update what it calls a 40-year-old regulatory paradigm for 21st century technologies.

By David Lim • Oct. 31, 2019

Livongo inks pacts with Doctor on Demand, MDLive

The digital chronic disease management company will offer telehealth services to its behavioral health members beginning in 2020, with plans to extend the option to users of its diabetes and hypertension platforms shortly thereafter.​​

By Linda Wilson • Oct. 29, 2019