Even as the U.S. and the world struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession, Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) CEO Geoff Martha remains optimistic about the future. When asked today when things will return to normal for the medical device industry, the leader of the world’s largest medtech company quickly responded: “I don’t want to go back to […]
AdvaMed
Avail grabs $100M to build OR telemed network
Avail Medsystems closed on $100 million for a Series B round to fund the company’s plan to provide free telemedicine equipment that can connect surgeons, interventional specialists and medical device sales reps. In an announcement issued this morning, Avail said the round was led by D1 Capital Partners, with participation from 8VC and existing investors. […]
How much could Operation Warp Speed change pharma, medtech distribution?
A top U.S. Department of Health and Human Services official used an appearance today at a virtual medtech conference to repeat the U.S. government’s astounding goal for its Operation Warp Speed program: start delivering 300 million doses of a safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine by January 2021. The project could revolutionize not only how pharmaceuticals are […]
Rhaeos and its shunt monitor win MedTech Innovator’s 2020 global competition
MedTech Innovator announced today that wearable head shunt monitor startup Rhaeos has won its 2020 Global Competition. Rhaeos (Evanston, Ill.) won the competition and $350,000 grand prize in a virtual live audience vote at The Virtual MedTech Conference, powered by AdvaMed. The 2-year-old company’s wearable, noninvasive Flowsense device monitors ventricular shunt function for hydrocephalus patients […]
AdvaMed pushes for Medicare coverage of digital health tech
Medtech trade group AdvaMed today called on the federal government to expand Medicare coverage to digital health technologies. The Medicare statute does not directly address coverage of digital health technologies, nor does it specifically limit or prohibit their coverage. But it doesn’t make Medicare coverage easy, either. Get the full story on our sister site, […]
Federal rule on ethylene oxide now delayed until 2021
The final federal rule limiting ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions from commercial medtech sterilization plants is now set to come out in 2021, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the EPA had expected to issue the rule in May 2020. The agency considers ethylene oxide a carcinogen, and EtO emissions have attracted national […]
AdvaMed launches campaign against ‘misleading’ legal advertising
Medtech trade group AdvaMed this week debuted a website that tracks law firm TV advertisements aimed at patients who have had certain medical devices implanted. The “Responsible Advertising for Patient Safety” site says that such ads mislead patients into legal action against the manufacturers of devices that are “non-faulty” and may jeopardize patient safety. Get the full […]
COVID-19 molecular diagnostic test shipments surpass 150M in U.S.
Total U.S. shipments of COVID-19 molecular diagnostic tests have reached more than 150 million, based on the latest data from the AdvaMed COVID-19 testing supply registry. Manufacturers shipped nearly 8.5 million tests per week in August, up from 3.7 million weekly in April, the medtech trade group noted. AdvaMed launched the registry July 21 to aid state and federal pandemic […]
Advamed MedTech Conference goes virtual
The annual AdvaMed MedTech Conference has kicked off its second virtual week with livestreamed sessions beginning at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday. Originally scheduled to take place in Toronto, this year’s conference was moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Future AdvaMed annual conferences will likely be a hybrid of in-person and virtual, group chair and Stryker […]
CMS agrees to cover ‘breakthrough’ medical devices
Medicare patients will have coverage for medical devices the FDA designates as breakthrough technology under a proposed rule released this morning. Once the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology (MCIT) final rule goes into effect, national Medicare coverage will begin on the date a breakthrough device’s FDA market authorization would begin and continue for 4 years. […]
Advamed: Diagnostic COVID-19 tests shipments hit 1m
U.S. shipments of COVID-19 molecular diagnostic tests reached 1 million per day for the week ending July 24, based on the latest data from AdvaMed’s national testing registry. The medtech trade group launched the registry July 21 to aid state and federal pandemic responses. “This incredible milestone is just the latest example of how the medical technology industry […]