ViewRay (NSDQ:VRAY) said yesterday it tapped former Spectranetics head Scott Drake as its new chief executive officer and former Spectranetics COO Shar Matin as its new COO. Before joining ViewRay, Drake served as CEO and prez of Spectranetics, which was acquired by Royal Philips (NYSE:PHG) in a deal that closed last August. Drake also serves as board chair […]
Alphabet (Google)
Google executive Heidi Dohse on becoming a heart patient
For more than 30 years, Google (NSDQ:GOOG) executive Heidi Dohse has been fully dependent on pacemakers to help power her heart. But that hasn’t stopped her from becoming a competitive cyclist, competing in events around the world. At DeviceTalks Minnesota, Dohse spoke with Randall Shiestl, VP of R&D at Boston Scientific‘s (NYSE:BSX) global technology unit, about […]
Hey, Google! When will I die?
Google’s AI capabilities can predict with greater accuracy than a hospital’s computers when a critically ill patient will die, according to a new study. Using a patient’s entire chart, Google’s deep learning methods were able to predict, 24 hours after admission, the risk of that patient’s death at 19.9% while the regular hospital’s computers predicted […]
Here’s how Sanofi separates true innovation from all the hype in digital health
Recognizing that digital technology is here to stay in the business of healthcare, pharmaceutical companies have not shied away from collaborating with the folks in Silicon Valley. Sanofi (NYSE:SNY), for instance, has dove in feet first, striking deals with major tech players like Verily. But weeding out true disruptions from all the noise isn’t easy. “There’s […]
Speakers you need to see at DeviceTalks Minnesota
A Google executive whose own heart problems spurred her to seek medtech innovation, a leader at Abbott who wants to drive healthcare value, the head of an upstart company seeking to transform diabetes care — those are but some of the speakers you will encounter at DeviceTalks Minnesota this June. Read on to find out […]
All heart: A Google executive’s real-world experience with medtech
After hearing the story of her 10 cardiac surgeries and seven pacemakers, you could be forgiven for thinking that Heidi Dohse has a weak heart. But the Google executive, endurance cyclist and, now, inspirational speaker she may have a stronger heart than most people on the planet. Dohse, a senior program manager at Google and […]
Google, Fitbit ink collab healthcare deal, look to challenge Apple Watch
Fitbit (NYSE:FIT) yesterday announced plans for a health-care collaboration with Google (NSDQ:GOOG), giving Apple (NSDQ:AAPL) and its Apple Watch more competition in the mobile health monitor market. The wearable developer plans to use Google’s Cloud healthcare API for further healthcare system integration, which could allow FitBit activity data to be integrated with electronic medical records for more […]
Google unveils prototype augmented-reality, AI-powered light microscope system
Google (NSDQ:GOOG) this week presented initial data from a prototype augmented reality microscope platform it’s developing for advanced cancer detection, according to a research blog post from the tech giant. The platform consists of a modified light microscope for real-time image analysis and presents analysis from a machine-learning algorithm directly into the users field of view, […]
Google partners with AMA to launch mobile health interoperability and innovation challenge
The American Medical Association said today it is partnering with Google (NSDQ:GOOG) to launch the AMA Health Care Interoperability and Innovation Challenge designed to support mobile health technology that improves monitoring and care in the management of chronic diseases. In the challenge, participants will present mobile solutions that aim to improve the capturing and transmission of […]
Amazon lures ex-FDA chief health informatics officer for healthcare skunkworks
Amazon (NSDQ:AMZN) is continuing to build its healthcare team, this time picking up former FDA chief health informatics officer Taha Kass-Hout, according to a report from CNBC. Kass-Hout is slated to take up a business development role with Amazon’s Grand Challenge team, a moonshot technology program similar to Google‘s (NSDQ:GOOG) Google X lab, according to the […]
Medtech’s existential crisis and how it can survive
Executives in medtech and other life sciences companies view digital health startups and high tech giants as an existential threat. To compete, they’re going to have to invest in or acquire customer engagement and personalization skills usually associated with online retailers and social networking sites, according to a new report out today from EY. The […]