MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Patient safety is the number 1 concern keeping medical device engineers up at night, followed closely by uncertainty in healthcare industry, according to an recent poll by QMed editor Brian Buntz.
Covidien recalls flush syringes
MassDevice.com Q&A: Venaxis CEO Steve Lundy
Of the 10.5 million cases of abdominal pain that present in American emergency rooms each year, only about 300,000 end up being confirmed as appendicitis. That means an expensive glut of ultimately unnecessary – and potentially cancer-causing – CT scans performed in ERs.
Tengion’s Q2 losses widen
Hospital CEO pleads guilty to 2nd degree stalking charges | Personnel Moves
Louis Krami, CEO of Idaho’s Bingham Memorial Hospital, admitted to 2nd degree stalking charges after he ordered hospital IT staff to record the phone calls of former Bingham doctor Robert Rosin and his staff.
In the culmination of the 18-month investigation, Krami faces 30 days in behind bars, a $1,000 fine and 100 hours of community service. Hospital IT employees Chris Behunin, Tyler Lassen and IT director Jack York were also implicated in the illegal wiretap activity.
Tissue Regeneration Systems closes $4.6M round
Startup medical device company Tissue Regeneration Systems raised $4.6 million in an equity financing round led by Venture Investors, CEO Jim Fitzsimmons told MassDevice.com.
The round was also supported by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the University of Michigan and the state of Wisconsin, Fitzsimmons told us.
White House has missed half of ACA deadlines | MassDevice.com On Call
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — During the 1st 3 years of Affordable Care Act implementation, the Obama administration has failed to meet half of its mandatory deadlines, according to a new report from the non-partisan Congressional Research Service.
FDA clears AccuLIF XL spinal fusion device from CoAlign Innovations
CoAlign Innovations landed a nod from federal regulators for the XL version of its AccuLIF device, used during spine fusion surgeries.
CoAlign’s interbody implant is used during the lateral approach to spine surgery, a less-invasive method than traditional posterior fusion or anterior fusion techniques. During lateral surgery, the AccuLIF device is placed inside the target spine section before expanding to create an accurate reconstruction of proper spine anatomy, according to a press release.
1st patients enroll in Respicardia’s trial for sleep apnea implant
Minneapolis-based Respicardia said it launched a pivotal clinical trial of its Remede implantable device for central sleep apnea.
The pacemaker-like implant is designed to relieve sleep problems experienced by many heart failure and atrial fibrillation patients. It’s designed to send regular electrical impulses to the phrenic nerves, to prompt a response from the diaphragm.
Staar Surgical launches LASIK alternative in India
Staar Surgical (NSDQ:STAA) won regulatory approval from India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization for its LASIK eye surgery alternative, the Visian implantable collamer lens with CentraFlow.
Do healthcare economics warp supply and demand? | MassDevice.com On Call
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — The law of supply and demand are among the most fundamental tenants of economics, and as applied to healthcare may suggest that an increase in the number of physicians in the U.S. would decrease the cost of the services they provide.