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. Medtronic escapes Infuse lawsuits involving fugitive Ohio doc
Medtronic yesterday escaped hundreds of lawsuits filed over the allegedly off-label use of its controversial bone-growth product, Infuse, by a Cincinnati doctor who has since fled to Pakistan.
Infuse consists of a collagen sponge that’s soaked in a bone-growth protein called recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 and implanted in the spine within a metal device called the LT-Cage. The FDA approved Infuse in 2002 for use in single-level anterior lumbar interbody fusions (other dental and trauma indications followed). Read more
4. Draper Labs plans human study of neural implants
Draper Laboratories is reportedly planning for the 1st human study of its neural implants for amputees to begin in late 2016 or early 2017.
This follows Phase I findings that demonstrated Draper’s wireless electronics package for its implantable devices work effectively by achieving a high bandwidth communication capacity of 20 megabits per second, relaying information quickly and efficiently. Read more
3. Staar Surgical wins Health Canada nod for Visian Toric ICL
Staar Surgical said today it won approval from Health Canada’s Medical Devices Bureau for its Evo Visian Toric ICL intraocular lenses.
The Evo Visian Toric ICL is designed to be implanted inside the eye between the iris and the natural lens indefinitely to correct vision, Monrovia, Calif.-based Staar Surgical said. Read more
2. Medtronic touts low CD-TLR rates, strong durability in 3-year In.Pact Admiral DCB study
Medtronic this week released data from 2 clinical studies evaluating its In.Pact Admiral drug-coated balloon for treating claudication and restenosis, touting sustained durability at 3-years.
Results were presented at the Vascular Interventional Advances 2016 conference in Las Vegas this week. Read more
1. Big Pharma urges acquittal for ex-Acclarent execs
Pharmaceutical giants including Bayer and Pfizer filed a motion backing ex-Acclarent executives William Facteau and Patrick Fabian, urging the Massachusetts federal court to acquit them of their misdemeanor charges.
Former Acclarent CEO Facteau and ex-sales vice president Fabian were convicted in July on 10 misdemeanor counts of “introducing adulterated and misbranded medical devices into interstate commerce.” Earlier this month, Judge Allison Burroughs lifted the bail and travel restrictions that were imposed on the pair. Read more
