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. Medtronic launches trial for Tyrx implant envelope
Medtronic said that it’s launching a new clinical trial to evaluate the anti-bacterial cardiac implant envelope it bought along with Tyrx for $160 million last year.
The Tyrx envelope is an anti-bacterial mesh pouch used to cover implanted cardiac devices designed to reduce infections at the surgical site by releasing rifampin and minocycline before dissolving roughly 9 weeks after implantation of a pacemaker, ICD or CRT device. Read more
2. St. Jude Medical launches v-tach ablation trial
St. Jude Medical said it enrolled its 1st patient in a clinical trial designed to evaluate the use of ablation in conjunction with cardiac rhythm management devices in treating ventricular tachycardia.
The Star-VT trial is slated to enroll some 1,450 patients at 50 U.S. sites. All patients enrolled with receive either an implantable cardiac defibrillator or a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator; the control arm will receive drug treatment alone for ventricular arrhythmia, while the control arm will receive ablation therapy using St. Jude’s FlexAbility ablation catheter, according to a press release. Read more
1. Insulet lowers guidance, shuffles executive deck
Insulet said that it’s shuffling the executive deck with a slate of hires connected to Hologic and lowered its guidance for the 4th quarter and 2014 overall.
Billerica, Mass.-based Insulet said a delay in shipments of its non-insulin drug delivery products means it now expects to report revenues of $71 million to $73 million, down from prior guidance of $76 million to $81 million. Full-year sales are pegged at $287 to $289 million, down from $292 to $297 million, according to a press release. Read more
