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. Vascular Solutions, Boston Scientific settle catheter patent spat
Vascular Solutions said yesterday that it settled a patent infringement spat with Boston Scientific over their respective coronary guide extension catheters, putting to rest a pair of lawsuits each had filed against the other.
Other terms of the deal were not disclosed. Read more
2. Johnson & Johnson recalls power morcellators over cancer risk
Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon Endo-Surgery is voluntarily asking for the return of laparoscopic power morcellators used in fibroid surgeries, on the risk that the devices may unintentionally spread cancer cells during the procedures, according to news reports.
Ethicon had already suspended sales of the devices last April, following FDA warnings that the devices may might spread undetected cancers. Read more
1. Ex-sales rep’s counter-claims stand in poaching spat with Stryker
Counter-claims brought by Richard Steitzer, a former sales rep for Stryker, can stand in a poaching spat between Stryker, Steitzer and Biomet, a Michigan federal judge ruled last week.
Stryker sued orthopedics rival Biomet last year, accusing it of a scheme to poach reps and business from Stryker in Louisiana and New York. Steitzer and Christopher Ridgeway allegedly conspired with Biomet in the scheme, according to the September 2013 lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for Western Michigan. Steitzer quit in June 2013 to work for Biomet; Stryker fired Ridgeway Sept. 10 of that year, according to the lawsuit, after discovering that he was allegedly running a pair of medical supply businesses on the side. Read more
