Medical Devices

Dexcom hopes wave of new customers offsets lower prices, Abbott's sweet spot

The continuous glucose monitor maker also said it's planning a third manufacturing site, this time outside of the U.S., as it prepares for demand beyond its mainstay Type 1 diabetes market.
By Maria Rachal • Feb. 14, 2020
Baxter overstated income by $278M, internal probe finds

The fallout may drag on from Baxter's use of a flawed method to calculate exchange rates over several years. The medtech continues to work with the SEC and potential investor class action lawsuits could follow.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 14, 2020
Insulet warns of defect with Dash personal diabetes manager

The notice came a day after FDA flagged a potential safety issue with certain Medtronic insulin pumps. Although the source of risk was different, the possible outcome was the same: under or over delivery of insulin.
By Maria Rachal • Feb. 13, 2020
Moody's: Coronavirus spread in US to have mixed credit effects across healthcare

Device makers — particularly Boston Scientific, BD and Abbott — will likely see a credit negative effect from supply chain disruption, even if the outbreak is contained to China.
By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 13, 2020
FDA folds Cook Medical asks into final peripheral vascular atherectomy device 510(k) guidance

The agency made some changes to advice on premarket submissions for technologies used to help remove plaque from diseased arteries.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 13, 2020
Medtronic insulin pump recall tied to 1 death, more than 2K injuries, FDA says

A hardware issue the medtech giant flagged to certain MiniMed customers in November has generated more than 26,000 complaints, the agency said as it classified the recall in its highest-risk category.
By Maria Rachal • Feb. 12, 2020
Tenet to pay $1.4M to settle claims it unnecessarily implanted cardiac monitors

The unneeded procedures subjected patients to "needless peril, and taxpayers end up with the bill," said an HHS Office of Inspector General special agent.
By Samantha Liss • Feb. 12, 2020
FDA OKs 'Inside-Out' device for enabling hemodialysis in hard-to-treat patients

Bluegrass Vascular Technologies plans to make its De Novo-winning venous access device available at select U.S. sites in the coming months, adding to the revenue it already generates in the EU, Canada and other markets.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 12, 2020
Wearable heart rate sensor accuracy didn't vary across skin tones in small Duke study

But data from 53 individuals, published Monday, revealed differences in accuracy by device manufacturer across activity type.
By Susan Kelly • Feb. 11, 2020
Hospitals, clinics most likely to be hit with ransomware attack

But medical testing and supplies companies weren't spared among the 172 individual attacks from 2016 to 2019 that affected 6.6 million patients.
By Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 11, 2020
Renewed calls for Impella RCT as JAMA details bleeding, death rate findings

Abiomed has cast doubt on the registry-based study, though some cardiologists argue it supports “a more restrictive use” of the circulatory support device.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 11, 2020
Medtronic faces key test in establishing US market for renal denervation

After a setback six years ago, the medtech giant is set to unveil pivotal trial data next month on a procedure to lower blood pressure. Abbott and Boston Scientific are likely watching closely.
By Susan Kelly • Feb. 10, 2020
FDA puts high-risk label on GE Healthcare anesthesia systems recall

A potential loose cable connection in more than 3,600 of the devices may result in a loss of mechanical ventilation.
By Maria Rachal • Feb. 10, 2020
Snapshot: How medtech earnings season is shaping up

Cancer test maker Exact Sciences and diabetes medtech Dexcom each said this week they will step up marketing campaigns in 2020, as product awareness among consumers and prescribing physicians can greatly influence their sales.
By Maria Rachal • UPDATED: Feb. 14, 2020 at 11:23 a.m.
Abiomed, on defense, plans wave of trials to counter Impella criticism

The maker of the heart pump is seeking to quash doubts after two large observational studies suggested the product was more risky and pricey than alternative treatments.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 06, 2020
EU MDR notified bodies hit 11 with Irish group added

The National Standards Authority of Ireland describes itself as the country's official standards body. It's the second certified since the Commission teased last month that three more of the entities would soon be added to the count.
By Kim Dixon • UPDATED: Feb. 13, 2020 at 11:01 a.m.
BD cuts 2020 guidance on Alaris pump hangup with FDA, stock tanks

"Resetting expectations is certainly not how I want to start my first call as CEO," new BD head Tom Polen told analysts. Shares were down as much as 13% Thursday morning.
By Maria Rachal • Feb. 06, 2020
Boston Scientific expects up to $40M hit in Q1 from coronavirus

Ongoing integration of its $4.2 billion acquisition of BTG and pricing headwinds for drug-eluting stents may also temper growth, the company said on its earnings call Wednesday.
By Maria Rachal • Feb. 05, 2020
Merck spins off lower growth products, including contraceptive implants

A yet-to-be-named new company will house the pharma's legacy drugs and women's health products NuvaRing and Nexplanon.
By Jacob Bell • Feb. 05, 2020
Abbott, SynCardia requests prompt CMS to reconsider heart device coverage

Those companies, plus competitors like Medtronic, stand to benefit if the agency expands access to ventricular assist devices and artificial hearts based on new evidence.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 05, 2020
Abbott wins breakthrough tag for fully implantable LVAD system, following Medtronic

Abbott and Medtronic, whose HeartMate and HeartWare go head-to-head in the left ventricular assist device market, each have FDA's help in getting a less cumbersome version of the treatment to patients with advanced heart failure.
By Maria Rachal • Feb. 04, 2020
Zimmer's Rosa robot drives Q4 growth, restructuring set

But the company did not specify total knee system placements like robotics competitor Stryker. It's going to "take a while to disrupt that inertia" from rival systems, CEO Bryan Hanson told investors.
By Maria Rachal • UPDATED: Feb. 4, 2020 at 4:26 p.m.
Contura nabs FDA nod for female incontinence device

The London-based company may compete with Allergan, which also sells a bulking agent.
By Susan Kelly • Feb. 04, 2020
Brexit happened. EU MDR looms. 3 key questions on medtech's future in Europe

The U.K. can skip the new in vitro diagnostic rules entirely, and in theory, could unilaterally stop applying MDR after the transition period ends. Both scenarios seem unlikely.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Feb. 04, 2020
Its DOJ case settled, ResMed tops revenue expectations in Q2

The sleep apnea device maker also acquired software company SnapWorx to bolster its Brightree business.
By Susan Kelly • Feb. 03, 2020