MASSDEVICE ON CALL —Medtronic Inc. (NYSE:MDT) tops the list of the 15 most watched stocks in med-tech, followed closely by Intuitive Surgical Inc. (NSDQ:ISRG) in second and Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE:BSX) in third.
Research & Development
Working anal sphincters created in lab | MassDevice.com On Call
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — North Carolina researchers built the first functional anal sphincters in a laboratory, and the organs developed blood flow and maintained function when implanted in mice.
While mouse studies are a far cry from preparation for human use, the lab-made sphincters could one day lead to treatment for urinary and fecal incontinence.
Thermo Fisher’s offering, Edwards’ glimmer of hope, Boston Scientific’s Irish investment | MassDevice.com +3
Say hello to MassDevice +3, a bite-sized view of the top three med-tech stories of the day. This latest feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our three biggest and most influential stories from the day’s news to make sure you’re up to date on the headlines that continue to shape the medical device industry.
If you read nothing else today, make sure you’re still in the know with Massdevice +3.
Are print medical journals dead?
This morning in the Chicago Tribune’s business section appeared an article entitled “Just What the Doctor Ordered” that included an interview with Dr. Howard Bauchner, the new editor for the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). He plans to pursue a strategy of “intelligent innovation” for the journal:
Boston Scientific pours another $37 million into overseas R&D
More news from the Emerald Isle as the Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE:BSX) plans to spend $37 million on overseas research and development, this time at its R&D facility in Clonmel, Ireland.
The Natick, Mass.-based company hopes to jump-start development of a next generation cardiac rhythm management system.
Covidien logs first patient in Iliac stent studies | Research Roundup
Covidien Plc. (NYSE:COV) enrolled the first patients into its two Iliac stent trials, Durability and Visibility.
The trials will each enroll 75 patients at up 20 centers in Europe and the U.S. in order to test the safety and effectiveness of Mansfield, Mass.-based Covidien’s Iliac stent systems for patients with peripheral arterial disease.
Both studies have started in Belgium, enrolling patients at AZ St-Blasius in Dendermonde and Imelda Hospital in Bonheiden.
Rebuttal: The New England Journal of Medicine’s justification of medical “mystery shoppers”
Medtronic’s controversial Infuse bone graft goes to Yale
Medtronic Inc. (NYSE:MDT) announced Wednesday that it is offering a $2.5 million grant to Yale researchers who will independently review the safety of the company’s controversial Infuse bone graft product.
The funds will cover two reviews of the so-called recombinant bone morphogenic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) product, which stimulates bone formation. Yale expects to complete the reviews in six months.
Ohio State gets $1.1 million grant for knee replacement research
Ohio State University researchers have received a $1.1 million federal grant to study the differences in outcomes in patients who have undergone total knee replacement operations.
The research will explore potential causes for the gap between some knee replacement patients who struggle to perform daily tasks, such as climbing the stairs, and other patients who are able to resume activities like hiking and tennis after their operations, according to a statement from Ohio State.
Medtronic gets FDA nod to test MRI-friendly pacemaker
The FDA granted Medtronic Inc. (NYSE:MDT) the go-ahead on a clinical trial to test its next generation of MRI pacemaker technology, the company announced today.
The Minneapolis, Minn.-based med-tech giant can enroll up to 250 patients in 50 medical centers across Europe, Central Asia, the U.S., Canada and Australia to test its new Advisa SureScan pacing system, Medtronic spokeswoman Wendy Dougherty said.
Aneurysm: Stryker touts Matrix detachable coil performance in new clinical trial
Stryker Corp. (NYSE:SYK) says a new clinical trial proves that its Matrix detachable coil devices are as effective as an older version of a catheter-fed coil, which has been on the market for more than 15 years.
Researchers said the company’s Matrix Detachable Coils were as effective as GDC detachable coils in treating ruptured and unruptured aneurysms in results from the Kalamazoo, Mich.-based company’s Matrix and Platinum Science or MAPS trial.