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. Sonoma Orthopedic raises $12 million for ankle implant

Sonoma Orthopedic Products added $12 million to its coffers, thanks to private equity shop First Analysis, saying it plans to use the proceeds to get its “flexible-to rigid” ankle implant on the U.S. market.

Sonoma, which develops implants to treat the extremities, said it plans to use the First Analysis infusion to win 510(k) clearance from the FDA for the ankle device, and then carry it though to launch and achieving commercial scale. Read more

2. Pulmonx taps ex-Asthmatx CEO French for the corner office

Pulmonx said that it named Glen French, the co-founder and CEO of Asthmatx who led it to an acquisition by BSX, to be its new president and chief executive.

Pulmonx makes the Zephyr endobronchial valve treatment, a series of 1-way valves implanted in the diseased portions of the lungs of patients with severe emphysema. The minimally invasive treatment is designed to facilitate the release of “trapped air” from the hyperinflation of the diseased portions of the lung, according to a press release. Read more

1. Report: FDA grounds plan to test unmanned inspection drones

An FDA proposal to test unmanned drones in facility inspections was grounded before it could take flight, according to a report in Regulatory Focus.

An internal FDA memo obtained by the publication revealed that the agency was planning to “perform a test of drone technology” sometime this week. Read more