Say hello to MassDevice +3, a bite-sized view of the top three med-tech 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. What does Facebook’s $2B Oculus buy bring to healthcare?
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — New Facebook target Oculus VR may have some important offerings for the healthcare world, especially in imaging-based diagnostics and immersive rehabilitation therapy.
Facebook dropped a major bomb yesterday when it announced its $2 billion bid for Oculus VR, maker of virtual reality systems that are known primarily for video game applications. The technology consists of the “Rift” headset with positional tracking that alters a user’s view based on their real-world head movements. Read more
2. Medtronic details humanitarian sales to Syria, Cuba, Sudan
The U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission closed its review of Medtronic’s sales to strife-torn Syria and Sudan and to Cuba, which the medical device company said are made on a humanitarian basis and amount to a small fraction of its total business.
The SEC asked Medtronic in January to explain its business contacts in the 3 nations, which are flagged as state sponsors of terrorism and are subject to U.S. economic sanctions and assets controls. Read more
1. Shareholders sue Intuitive Surgical over adverse events, recalls
Intuitive Surgical is under fire from shareholders for allegedly under-reporting adverse events associated with its da Vinci surgical robot and concealing at least 3 recalls from the FDA.
Led by the City of Birmingham Relief & Retirement System, the shareholder derivative lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern California accuses Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Intuitive and its board and management of “failing to make a good-faith effort to ensure that Intuitive complied with applicable laws and FDA regulations governing the safety of medical devices designed to protect the health of the American public,” according to court documents. Read more