Companies

Boston Scientific points us at a new publication that details registry data relating to the real world performance of the company’s S-ICD (Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter/Defibrillator) and finds the device does the job.

Aptiv Solutions is to be acquired by ICON plc, for a cash consideration of $143.5 million, in a move that Icon says will enhance its own operations by helping customers identify promising drug candidates earlier.

It’s only one study, but it’s perhaps telling that the theoretical advantages of a balloon-expandable transcatheter valve design seem to carry through into clinical reality as procedural success for Sapien XT significantly outstrips its rival CoreValve.

Zimmer Spine, Inc., has announced the U.S. market launch of a comprehensive family of Puros Demineralized Bone Matrix (DBM) with Reverse Phase Medium (RPM) Putty, Putty with Chips, Gel and Paste, and Puros DBM Block and Strip products

A combination of findings presented at ACC 2014 and a newly published clinical paper, point to a bleak future for Renal Denervation as a blood pressure reducing therapy, at least as far as Medtronic’s Symplicity System is concerned.

Abbott’s Supera® Peripheral Stent System has received U.S. FDA approval to treat people with blocked blood vessels in the upper leg caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD occurs when fat and cholesterol buildup causes arteries outside of the heart to narrow, which reduces blood flow to parts of the body, most commonly the legs. The disease affects 12 to 20 percent of Americans age 65 or older and can cause leg pain, in addition to increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.

It’s been stormy waters for Echo Therapeutics during 2013, a year that saw cash dwindling, shareholder angst and boardroom changes, before new money arrived and cost-cutting measures started to turn the ship around.

Pretty complicated looking deal, but at the end of it CryoLife comes out with a nice adjunct to its vascular access graft portfolio.

In what looks like a natural cleaving of its sizeable business, Baxter International says it plans to create two independent global healthcare companies, effectively separating its biopharmaceuticals and medical products.

Results of a new clinical study into the Barrx RF Ablation platform, acquired by Covidien back in late 2011, say the therapy is effective at treating Barrett’s esophagus. So effective that the trial was stopped and the control group offered the treatment.

Remote monitoring of ICDs has been shown to improve patient adherence to follow-up regimes when compared with traditional repeat check-up appointments. It’s surely the biggest “no-brainer” the specialty has seen for years.

St. Jude Medical, Inc. has announced approval from the U.S. FDA for the Allure Quadra™ Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Pacemaker (CRT-P), which provides additional pacing innovations for physicians to treat patients with heart failure. The company also announced FDA approvals for the Assurity™ pacemaker and Endurity™ pacemaker families of devices.

St. Jude Medical, Inc. has announced the global launch of the Optisure™ Defibrillation Lead, joining the Optim™ lead family, which includes the company’s now famous Durata™ Defibrillation Lead.

Back in January we covered the news that Stryker was to acquire Patient Safety Technologies, Inc. Now it looks like the deal will go through, as shareholders of Patient Safety have voted in favour.

St. Jude Medical, Inc. has seen its Prodigy™ Chronic Pain System with Burst Technology gain CE Mark approval, which it says will be followed by European launch.

Imaging device Specialist NinePoint Medical, Inc., has completed a $34 million Series B financing which it says will support the ongoing commercial launch of the NvisionVLE Imaging System in the U.S., as well as development of the company’s expanded product offering.