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. Medical device tax: Hatch reboots Senate repeal effort with new bill

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more: Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and 10 other senators today filed another bill to repeal the medical device tax, a 2.3% levy on U.S. sales of medical devices enacted as part of Obamacare.

Five Democrats co-sponsored the Hatch bill, the Medical Device Access & Innovation Protection Act: Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). Read more

2. Appeals court puts Gore on the hook for $1B in damages to Bard

A federal appeals court handed a major win to C.R. Bard, upholding a judgment of willful infringement against W.L. Gore & Assoc. that tacks on an extra $205 million to the $854 million Gore already owed Bard– taking Gore’s tab for infringement of a Bard stent graft patent to more than $1 billion.

It’s the latest development in a decades-long war between Gore and Bard over stent graft technology. Gore alleged that 1 of its engineers, Peter Cooper, invented a key claim in the patent in the early 1970s. Read more

1. Fewer sales reps in the OR? Smith & Nephew looks to expand no-frills Syncera program

Smith & Nephew plans to expand its Syncera pilot program, which replaces OR sales reps with an automated system, into 3 more markets, CEO Olivier Bohoun told investors yesterday.

Syncera, a “no frills” program for the British medical device company’s orthopedics business, aims to cut implant prices in half by removing sales representatives from the operating room and replacing them with an automated technology solution. Read more