MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Medtech titan Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) is treading a tough road in seeking Supreme Court review in a lawsuit accusing the company of liability for injuries a patient says were caused by the company’s implantable pain pumps.
The U.S. Solicitor General this month recommended that the Supreme Court refuse Medtronic’s petition for review, saying that a lower court had made the right call when ruling that the lawsuit is not preempted under existing federal law, Law360.com reported.
Medtronic had attempted to have the case thrown out under federal preemption laws, which protect medical device makers whose devices were reviewed and approved through the FDA’s stringent pre-market approval pathway. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in January 2013 ruled against Medtronic, with a panel of judges ruling unanimously that a case against the medical device giant and its implantable pain pumps may proceed.
The case had been thrown out of court earlier that year when a federal judge dismissed the case of grounds of preemption. The 9th Circuit’s 3-judge panel later decided that plaintiff Richard Stengel, who had the pump implanted into his abdomen in 2000, could proceed with his negligence claims against Medtronic.
N.Y. Senator pushes for autism tracking program
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) hopes to land funding for a voluntary program to help parents track children with autism or other disabilities associated with "bolting" behavior.
Read more
Mass. company develops smartwatch for pill-poppers
Massachusetts-based e-pill Medication Reminders unveiled a new smartwatch designed for women that provides medical alerts to remind users to take their medications.
Read more
Global trio aims for portable kidney by 2017
Debiotech of Switzerland, AWAK of Singapore and Neokidney Development, an initiative of the Dutch Kidney Foundation, say they plan to have a portable hemodialysis system in clinical trials by 2017.
Read more
Medtech leaders weigh in on the device tax
A dozen leaders from the medical device space offered their 2¢ on the impacts of the medical device tax, from the impact on jobs to the impact on innovation.
Read more