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. Sales, earnings plunge for Intuitive Surgical during dreary Q1
Intuitive Surgical said sales dropped nearly 24% during the first 3 months of 2014, missing analysts’ estimates and sending shares down 4% in after-hours trading.
Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Intuitive had braced The Street earlier this month with a preliminary earnings release that sent shares down 10% April 9 to $440.50 apiece. Read more
2. Medtronic begins U.S. IDE trial for Evera SureScan MRI-safe ICD
Medtronic said the 1st patient was implanted with its MRI-safe Evera SureScan ICD as part of an investigational device exemption trial in the U.S.
The Evera SureScan device is the 1st to be the subject of a U.S. trial for an ICD that’s safe for full-body MRI scans, Medtronic said. The device won CE Mark approval in the European Union earlier this month. Read more
1. Boston Scientific launches trial for Acuity X4, Reliance 4-Front leads
Boston Scientific said the 1st patient was implanted in a clinical trial of its Acuity X4 quadripolar left-ventricular pacing leads and Reliance 4-Front defibrillation leads, ahead of its bid for FDA approval for the devices.
The trial, dubbed Navigate X4, is slated to enroll between 1,542 and 2,290 patients at up to 125 centers in the United States, Canada and Israel, Boston Scientific said. The study calls for the Acuity X4 and Reliance 4-Front leads to be connected to the Natick, Mass.-based company’s X4 CRT-D devices, according to a press release. Read more
