TransEnterix (NYSE:TRXC) announced today that it received CE Mark approval for its Intelligent Surgical Unit for the Senhance system. The Intelligent Surgical Unit (ISU) enables machine vision capabilities on the Senhance surgical system, providing Senhance digital laparoscopic programs in Europe augmented intelligence capabilities in surgical settings, according to a news release. The FDA cleared the ISU […]
Digital Health
Hillrom to buy Bardy Diagnostics for $375M
Hillrom (NYSE:HRC) has agreed to spend $375 million to acquire Bardy Diagnostics and its Carnation Ambulatory Monitor, or CAM patch. Analysts at Baird described the CAM patch as a long-term Holter wearable biosensor. Hillrom said in a news release out today that the BardyDx purchase complements Hillrom’s present cardiology portfolio of cardiac stress exercise, Holter and […]
Philips acquires Capsule Technologies and its medical device data tech
Royal Philips (NYSE:PHG) announced today that it agreed to acquire Capsule Technologies in a deal worth $635 million. Andover, Mass.-based Capsule Technologies develops medical device integration and data technologies for hospitals and healthcare organizations. Its offerings include a medical device information platform for integration, vital signs monitoring and clinical surveillance services, according to a news release. […]
CES 2021: Medical technologies you need to know
There are fewer mobile health devices and wearables to check out as this year’s CES goes virtual — with a trend toward medtech to slow the spread of COVID-19. Scheduled for Jan. 11–14, CES 2021 will feature 419 digital health and 219 wearable devices, down from 546 and 635 devices, respectively, presented at CES 2020. […]
Stryker acquires OrthoSensor and its knee surgery sensor tech
Stryker (NYSE:SYK) announced today that it has bought privately-held OrthoSensor and its Verasense intraoperative sensor tech that could further enhance the ortho giant’s Mako robots. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Stryker officials in a news release noted that Verasense since 2011 has proved itself to be a unique knee balancing solution in […]
How the clinical trial industry is making the most of COVID-19 disruption
Like most things in healthcare, clinical trials have been slow to evolve in recent decades. But the COVID-19 pandemic has forced clinical trial research teams to become more efficient, patient-centered and inclusive. Much is at stake as the pandemic has already caused significant clinical trial disruption. EY estimates that the COVID-19 impact on Phase 3 […]
FDA allows virtually-guided, at-home use of Abbott’s rapid COVID-19 test cards
Abbott (NYSE:ABT) announced today that FDA has granted an EUA for virtually-guided, at-home use of the company’s BinaxNow COVID-19 Ag Card. Abbott has partnered with digital health provider eMed to provide telehealth-supported, at-home, prescription use of the cards, which run at $25 apiece. Similar in design to some pregnancy tests, the cards produce results within minutes […]
GE Healthcare helps set up a ‘Virtual ICU’ across Oregon
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravages rural areas in the U.S., GE Healthcare (NYSE:GE) is touting “Virtual ICU” technology as a way to allow people with severe cases to stay near their homes. The medtech giant today announced a multi-year agreement with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) to help intensivists virtually connect with ICU patients across […]
10 trends that will matter for life sciences in 2021
One silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it has accelerated the rate of change for pharma and life sciences fields in general. The pandemic has forced a rethink of how to manage clinical trials and treat patients in hospitals and their homes. And the breakneck speed of vaccine development in 2020 could potentially […]
DHS warns on Medtronic MyCareLink smart monitor cybersecurity vulnerabilities
The U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security warned on cyber vulnerabilities with the MyCareLink made by Medtronic (NYSE:MDT). Medtronic’s MyCareLink (MCL) Smart Model 25000 patient reader is potentially vulnerable to improper authentication, heap-based buffer overflow and the time-of-check/time-of-use race condition, according to a notice from DHS. Successful exploitation of the vulnerabilities could result in an attacker being […]
Abbott launches first VR OCT training for surgeons
Abbott (NYSE:ABT) announced today that it launched its first virtual reality-based training program for interventional cardiologists. The company’s new training program uses VR with traditional training techniques to increase experience and expertise in using Abbott’s optical coherence tomography (OCT) to improve outcomes in patients who need a stent to open clogged arteries, according to a news […]