Research
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Apple
Smartwatch EKGs could speed diagnosis of deadly heart syndrome, small study suggests
Some medical groups have questioned the use of wearables like the Apple Watch to detect certain conditions, but authors writing in JAMA Cardiology said they may be useful when an electrocardiogram is not available.
By Susan Kelly • Sept. 01, 2020 -
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ER visits lag behind in hospital volume recovery
A survey of more than 500 U.S. hospitals shows ER visits were down 25% compared to pre-pandemic levels for the 3.5 months leading up to June 21.
By Shannon Muchmore • July 15, 2020 -
Fotolia
Q&AQ&A: New NESTcc chief on the real-world evidence group's 'pivot point' and COVID-19
Sandra Siami, the new head of the National Evaluation System for health Technology Coordinating Center, says the pandemic's limitations on traditional clinical studies have put alternative sources of device data in the limelight.
By Maria Rachal • June 29, 2020 -
NIH loops Quest into effort to test 10K Americans for antibodies against coronavirus
The agency did not disclose which antibody test it will use as part of the All of Us initiative, saying only that the assay has FDA emergency use authorization and is designed to detect IgG antibodies.
By Nick Paul Taylor • June 17, 2020 -
Key data on Medtronic's 780G, Insulet's Horizon kick off ADA 2020
Abbott, Dexcom and Tandem will also present results at the virtual American Diabetes Association meeting that runs through Tuesday.
By Maria Rachal • June 12, 2020 -
Cardiology group ranks best devices for aorto-iliac arterial interventions
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions detailed stances on several key issues, including endovascular device effectiveness, issued Thursday at its virtual conference.
By Nick Paul Taylor • May 15, 2020 -
Ventilator sharing among states critical to save COVID-19 patient lives: Health Affairs paper
Without a coordinated federal effort to promote the exchange of the breathing assist machines, thousands more Americans will die in the coming weeks as the virus continues its rampage across the U.S., a new paper warns.
By Susan Kelly • May 04, 2020 -
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Study questions TAVR access disparities under new CMS coverage policy
The number of hospitals offering the less invasive aortic valve disease treatment could double under Medicare's revised coverage, but limited access in rural and safety net hospitals appears likely to persist, according to research.
By Susan Kelly • April 07, 2020 -
High-risk devices with expedited reviews more likely to be recalled, research suggests
As FDA's Breakthrough Devices Program rises in popularity, a JAMA Internal Medicine analysis found almost two-thirds of Class III devices approved with priority review status between 2005 and 2015 were recalled.
By Nick Paul Taylor • March 31, 2020 -
Joint FDA, industry real-world evidence center issues research frameworks
As real-world evidence gains momentum as a tool for assessing medical device safety and effectiveness, NESTcc is laying out guiding principles on research methods and ensuring data quality.
By Amritpal Sandhu-Longoria • Feb. 27, 2020 -
Analysis casts doubt on Boston Scientific TAVR embolic protection device
The JAMA Internal Medicine research rekindles debate over whether the device, designed to catch dislodged plaque debris in the carotid arteries before it reaches the brain, is truly effective.
By Susan Kelly • UPDATED: Feb. 25, 2020 at 3 p.m. -
Apple
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 -
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 -
5-year Edwards results: TAVR matches surgery on survival, but repeat hospitalizations more common
Separately, a pair of cardiologists in an editorial published this week in the journal Circulation noted potential "important differences" between Edwards' Sapien 3 and Medtronic’s CoreValve devices.
By Nick Paul Taylor , Maria Rachal • Jan. 30, 2020 -
Robotic surgeries surge to 15% of all procedures, despite limited evidence
Robot-assisted procedures jumped from accounting for 1.8% of all general surgeries in 2012 to 15.1% in 2018. Closer monitoring is needed to ensure clinical benefits and safety are prioritized, researchers said.
By Susan Kelly • Jan. 14, 2020 -
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Study links paclitaxel devices to better survival in PAD, muddying debate
New research comes about six months after FDA held an advisory panel in response to a meta-analysis that found an increased risk of death associated with the use of coated balloons and stents in an artery of the lower limbs.
By David Lim • Jan. 09, 2020 -
Pulmonary hypertension common in MitraClip patients, increasing mortality risk: JAMA Cardiology
After reviewing more than 4,000 cases of mitral valve repair, researchers proposed exploring intervention with devices like Abbott's MitraClip earlier in disease progression to improve outcomes.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 21, 2019 -
Abiomed's Impella may be associated with higher costs, more adverse events than balloon therapy, studies find
"In the long term, who knows how this will play out?" Jefferies analyst Raj Denhoy told MedTech Dive Monday morning amid a 10% drop in its share price. "In terms of the stock, it isn't great."
By Dana Elfin • Nov. 18, 2019 -
FDA advisers: Metal implants need beefed up ingredient labels
Industry representative Whitney Christian, a toxicologist at Medtronic, told the panel that medical device manufacturers support patients' and doctors' "right to know" what's in implants and are willing to work with FDA on the issue.
By Maria Rachal • Nov. 15, 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 -
FDA experts weigh evidence on patients' adverse reactions to common device metals
Suggestions from speakers at Wednesday's advisory panel included conducting comparative effectiveness studies, bolstering the informed consent process and requiring more stringent adverse event reporting.
By Maria Rachal • Nov. 13, 2019 -
Sponsored by ZSNew product launches: Some matter more than others
Answering two simple questions can enable medtech companies to both prioritize launches and determine the right approach for each launch.
By Matt Singer • Nov. 05, 2019 -
Researchers question safety benefit of robotic colectomies
Despite a sharp rise in robot-assisted colon removal procedures using devices like Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci system, research published in JAMA Surgery found a laparoscopic approach has a comparable rate of complications.
By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 17, 2019 -
Sponsored by ZSStreamlining your portfolio can actually improve profitability. Here's how.
Retiring products is not an easy decision, but taking this step can have a real and positive impact on the P&L, customer, cross-functional teams and the ability to drive innovation.
By Matt Singer • Oct. 08, 2019 -
Paclitaxel device makers roll out revised labels, fresh safety analyses
Philips and BD highlighted independent analyses published this week defending their drug-coated balloons as manufacturers update product labels acknowledging a late mortality signal in peripheral artery disease patients.
By Maria Rachal • Oct. 03, 2019
