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. Should hospitals kick sales reps out of the OR?
Medical sales reps have long had a close relationship with physicians, providing services as a surgical consultant as well as a medtech dealer, but that dynamic may be about to change in a big way.
That may be good news for hospitals looking to cut their surgical costs, but it’s a mixed blessing for the industry. Anonymous readers offered a mixed reaction to the news, with some lauding the efforts to reduce sales reps’ unnecessary travel and on-site time while others warned that hospitals were misdirecting their cost-cutting efforts. Read more
2. Allergan cuts 129 workers amid hostile takeover battle
Embattled aesthetic devices maker Allergan informed California state authorities that it plans to cut 129 workers over the next few weeks.
The company, which is deeply entrenched in a battle with hostile buyers and activist investors, filed a Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification with the state Employment Development Dept., reporting that it would terminate the jobs by Oct. 31, 2014. The layoffs were listed as permanent. Read more
1. St. Jude Medical hits ‘pause’ on Portico TAVI device
St. Jude Medical hit the worldwide “pause” button on implantations of its Portico transcatheter aortic valve implant, including in a U.S. trial and in Europe, where the replacement heart valve is already on the market.
St. Jude spokeswoman Candace Steele Flippin told MassDevice.com that the company initiated the pause after CT scans turned up a potential problem with the valves in “a small number of cases.” The issue, involving what Steele Flippin called “reduced valve leaflet mobility” was seen in patients after 4D CT scans at 30 days. Read more
