Say hello to MassDevice +3, a bite-sized view of the top three medtech stories of the day. This feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our 3 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.
3. Bard, Boston Scientific in 1st trial against 2 pelvic mesh makers
A trial is under way in Kansas City in a product liability lawsuit against Boston Scientific and C.R. Bard, marking the 1st time a pelvic mesh lawsuit against 2 companies has gone before a jury, Courtroom View Network reported.
Plaintiff Eve Sherrer alleges that Bard’s Align and Boston Scientific’s Solyx used a polypropylene mesh that reacts to tissue by becoming brittle and that the companies failed to warn patients about the products’ attendant risks, according to the website. Read more
2. Senate votes to repeal medical device tax
The U.S. Senate yesterday passed a bill that would gut key provisions of the Affordable Care Act and do away with the medical device tax, but the measure faces certain death as soon as it hits President Barack Obama’s desk.
The upper chamber voted 52-47 to pass the bill, with 2 Republicans crossing the aisle to join Democrats in voting against H.R. 3762, the “Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015.” The measure must still be reconciled with the original version passed by the U.S. House of Representatives before it can be sent to the White House. Read more
1. Medtronic mulls sale of some Covidien assets
With 3 quarters of operations under its belt since the $50 billion acquisition of Covidien, Medtronic is evaluating whether to sell off some of the Covidien assets, CEO Omar Ishrak told analysts yesterday during a conference call.
Ishrak said Covidien, which Medtronic calls its minimally invasive therapies group, has “a very clear and compelling vision for the future, which is outcomes-based and very aligned with the Medtronic mission.” Read more
