Say hello to MassDevice +5, a bite-sized view of the top five medtech stories of the day. This feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our 5 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.
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5. Via Surgical inks distro deal with Progressive Medical for FasTouch
Via Surgical said today it inked an exclusive US distribution deal with Progressive Medical to distribute Via’s FasTouch soft tissue suture device.
Amirim, Israel-based-based Via Surgical’s FasTouch is designed for the fixation of prosthetic material to soft tissue, providing lockable, flexible suture-like fixation for procedures such as hernia repairs. Read more
4. NxThera raises $15 million
NxThera has raised $14.6 million in a new round of debt financing, according to an SEC filing posted this week.
The Maple Grove, Minn.-based company is offering convertible promissory notes and Series C preferred stock warrants in the round, according to the filing, with the 1st sale noted on Jan. 13. Read more
3. Merit Medical backs Bluegrass Vascular’s Surfacer ‘inside-out’ catheter
Bluegrass Vascular Technologies said today that it entered a “strategic relationship” with Merit Medical for its Surfacer “inside-out” catheter that includes an equity stake and a distribution agreement.
The Surfacer device is designed to provide access to the jugular vein to restore central venous access in hemodialysis patients with blocked neck veins; it won CE Mark approval in the European Union last August. The catheter is threaded through the femoral vein up to and into blockage in the jugular, which acts as a stabilizer. The head of the catheter is then aligned via fluoroscopy with a target on the surface of the neck, and a needle guide is advanced through to the skin. A sheath is then inserted, the Surfacer retracted and a central venous catheter is attached to the sheath. Read more
2. FDA approval in hand, Tryton Medical inks distro deal with Cardinal Health’s Cordis
Tryton Medical said today that it won pre-market approval from the FDA for its its side-branch stent for treating coronary bifurcation lesions and has already inked an exclusive U.S. distribution deal withCardinal Health subsidiary Cordis.
The side-branch stent is designed to be compatible with any conventional drug-eluting stent in the main vessel, and comes in sizes ranging from 2.5mm to 3.5mm, Tryton said. Read more
1. Boston Scientific’s Connected Patient contest finalists focus on data
Boston Scientific today announced the 6 finalists in its 2nd annual Connected Patient Challenge competition, which challenges groups to use big data to create actionable intelligence to increase patient care and healthcare efficiency.
The challenge, created in collaboration with physician interactive platform Medstro and supported by Google, had 46 contestants worldwide with concepts. Entries covered categories including patient data management and security, medication adherence, home healthcare, clinical trial support, addiction recover, and others, the company said. Read more