Companies

One of those promotional hook-ups that makes perfect sense sees Covidien agree to start distributing Vida Diagnostic’s interventional pulmonology diagnostic and planning software alongside its own i-Logic advanced bronchoscopy system.

Polymer specialist Foster Corporation is now offering nano-reinforced composites for minimally invasive devices, such as catheters, with reinforcement loadings up to 30% by weight, a significant increase due to new proprietary technology. The result could be medical devices with greatly increased flexural modulus.

The CE mark approval of St.Jude’s deep brain stimulation devices represents the first by a regulatory agency for the use of deep brain stimulation to manage both primary and secondary dystonia.

Smith & Nephew has revealed in-vitro study results suggesting ACTICOAT Silver-Coated Antimicrobial Dressings are bactericidal against some antibiotic resistant organisms carrying the NDM-1 enzyme, often referred to as ‘superbugs’.

The FDA has issued a Class I recall notice relating to the Animas® 2020 Insulin Pump. It seems there are two problems with the device. A Class I recall notice, is the FDA’s most serious type of recall and reserved for cases where human health is at risk by continued use of the device.

We’ve opined before about the weird regulatory divide that sees life-saving technologies withheld from U.S. patients while being freely available in Europe. It seems the clinical community shares the view,as one physician/author shows her frustration at the continued unavailability of Abbott’s MitraClip.

This weekend (April 6-9) sees the 35th running of the Charing Cross Vascular Symposium in London. Medtronic has just received CE mark approval for its new AAA stent graft introducer sheath and will be showcasing it among its other offerings at the event.

Buying one’s distributor is not uncommon in the medical device business, and can be a good thing for all parties. Smith and Nephew’s acquisition of PCE should give it greater control of market activities in Brazil…. and higher margins.

Covidien has won a patent infringement suit against Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, relating to Ethicon’s Harmonic® line of ultrasonic surgical products.

Medtronic, Inc. has gained U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance of its new Affinity Fusion® oxygenation system. The system is designed to serve as a patient’s lungs by oxygenating and removing carbon dioxide from blood during various open-heart surgical procedures.

Biomet and OrthoSensor will co-promote Biomet’s Vanguard® Complete Knee System and OrthoSensor’s VERASENSE™ in a new deal, of which details have not been disclosed. Coupling the two technologies is expected to result in improved surgical and financial outcomes.

Cardiac device and remote monitoring specialist company Biotronik is 50 years old. The company is having a double celebration as it is also announcing the CE mark approval of its MRI compatible Iforia ICD/CRT-D implant

CV device company TriReme has announced the signing of a comprehensive agreement with Weihai Weigao Medical Devices, Ltd for the distribution of its products in the People’s Republic of China. Weigao will act as TriReme’s master distributor by selling TriReme products directly to hospitals as well as connecting TriReme products into its vast nationwide distribution network.

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to sell certain of its subsidiaries, comprising Angiotech’s Interventional Products Business, to Argon Medical Devices, Inc., for $362.5 million in cash consideration. Angiotech expects the transaction will close prior to the end of April 2013.

Sorin’s newly approved RESPOND CRT trial aims to demonstrate clinical benefit of innovative SonR® CRT optimization system in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Eight-year study confirms PFO closure was superior to medical therapy alone in reducing risk of recurrent stroke in prespecified per-protocol and as-treated cohorts.