The FDA has announced that it will allow the use of dry heat to lower the bioburden on masks used by healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients. While not authorizing equipment made by a particular company, guidance released last week said healthcare providers may use dry heat to reprocess NIOSH-approved filtering facepiece respirators, such as N95s, […]
Hospital Care
Regeneron antibody cocktail wins emergency use authorization
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:REGN) has announced that the FDA has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for the combination of casirivimab and imdevimab to treat COVID-19. The monoclonal antibody cocktail is reportedly the first treatment to show “statistically significant anti-viral activity” against COVID-19, according to its developer. In a trial, the combination of drugs cut hospitalization or emergency […]
Steris closes on Key Surgical buy
Steris (NYSE:STE) announced this week that it has closed on its $850 million purchase of Key Surgical, a manufacturer of disposable hospital and surgical products. Mentor, Ohio-based Steris now anticipates that Key Surgical will add about 35% more revenue and adjusted earnings per diluted share in the fiscal year than initially anticipated with a December 31, […]
How has COVID-19 changed healthcare’s appetite for buying medical devices
This week’s DeviceTalks Weekly Podcast examines medtech’s readiness for the next COVID-19 surge. Hospitals are ready, but their appetite for expensive medical devices has changed, forcing medtech companies to change how they sell or lose out entirely. Justin Cassidy and Henry Soch of Vizient reveal why hospital executives are forced to divert funds away from […]
FDA flags false-positives with COVID-19 antigen tests
The FDA announced today that it is alerting laboratory staff and healthcare providers of false-positive results for rapid COVID-19 antigen tests. Generally, antigen tests are indicated for the qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigens in authorized specimen types collected from individuals suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider within a certain number of days of symptom […]
ivWatch appoints new COO
Continuous IV monitoring system developer ivWatch announced that it appointed Jaclyn Lautz as its new chief operating officer. Lautz assumes the newly created position at the company, having previously led its research and development division. Her new role will include manufacturing, human resources and operations as well in an effort to drive efficiency and scalability of […]
Stryker launches a smart hospital bed
Stryker (NYSE:SYK) announced this week that it launched the ProCuity wireless smart hospital bed to improve efficiency and safety while lowering costs. The intelligent bed was designed to help reduce in-hospital patient falls at all acuity levels while also improving nurse workflow efficiencies and safeties at lesser cost to the hospital. Stryker said in a news […]
Medtronic donates PPE worth $1M
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced that it donated nearly $1 million worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) in response to COVID-19. Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic donated the PPE to relief organization International Medical Corps in support of its ongoing COVID-19 response efforts in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, according to a news release. The donation includes more than 1.1 […]
Steris to acquire Key Surgical for $850M
Steris (NYSE:STE) announced this week that it has agreed to buy Key Surgical, a manufacturer of disposable hospital and surgical products, for $850 million. Mentor, Ohio-based Steris said it expects that the acquisition will qualify for a tax benefit related to tax-deductible goodwill, effectively reducing the purchase price to approximately $810 million. Key Surgical, a portfolio […]
Labor unions, environmental groups sue feds over lack of PPE
Labor unions ranging across several types of frontline workers today joined environmental groups in a lawsuit against the federal government. Unions representing healthcare workers, teachers, transit operators and millions more joined the environmental groups to sue the feds over their failure to provide adequate reusable respirators, N95 masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) […]
AI could boost Edwards’ critical care business
Critical care comprises nearly 20% of Edwards’ revenue. Its continued growth is connected to the prominence of the company’s heart valve business. Katie Szyman spent 23 years at Medtronic, a giant in the Medtech industry, but a patient-focused outlook became a driving force behind a change for her. Wanting to work for a California-based company […]
