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. HeartFlow’s CT-based FFR lowers costs, improves quality of life
A non-invasive test of cardiac function made by HeartFlow lowered the cost of care and delivered improved quality of life scores compared to standard care, according to a study presented at the annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference.
HeartFlow’s FFRCT test uses data from a standard CT scan to create a 3D map of the changes in blood flow as it passes across a coronary lesion. Results from the 584-patient Platform trial showed that the costs associated with planned angiography and the FFRCT procedure were 32% lower than the cost of angiography alone ($7,343 vs. $10,734). Read more
2. SynCardia pulls $28m IPO
SynCardia Systems withdrew its plans for an initial public offering that was slated to fetch $27.5 million at the midpoint.
“The registrant submits this request for withdrawal as it does not intend to pursue the contemplated public offering at this time,” the Tucson-based artificial heart maker said in an SEC filing. Syncardia had planned to float 2.5 million shares at $10 to $12 apiece. Read more
1. AtriCure closes $99m nContact buy
AtriCure said that it closed the $99 million cash-and-stock buyout of cardiac ablation device maker nContact.
Morrisville, N.C.-based nContact makes a system that’s designed to combine vacuum suction, perfusion and radiofrequency ablation to improve contact between cardiac tissue and the device. The company is running a U.S. investigational device exemption trial, comparing its Convergent procedure using the Epi-Sense coagulation system with VisiTrax to catheter ablation in treating persistent atrial fibrillation. The system has CE Mark approval in the European Union for treating atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Read more
