MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Apple (NSDQ:AAPL) is driving home its growing partnership with the healthcare industry by lending its new HealthKit iPhone application to researchers at Stanford and Duke Universities.
Duke University
Less-sick patients may benefit from preventive ICDs, study says | MassDevice.com On Call
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — New data on implantable cardioverter defibrillators suggests that devices may help even less-sick patients prolong their lives.
The implants are generally indicated for patients who have fairly severe deficiencies in the heart’s left ventricle’s ability to pump blood coming from the left atrium out to the aorta. Normal left ventricular ejection fraction, or LVEF, is generally defined as between 50%-70%. Lower rates are considered a sign of potential dysfunction or heart failure.
Survey: U.S. needs innovation in health care cost-reduction and efficiency | MassDevice.com On Call
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — U.S. thought-leaders are focused on means of improving efficiency and cutting costs while increasing access to health care, according to the latest New England Healthcare Institute Innovation Barometer.
A national survey of 500 opinion leaders found that nearly 40% ranked waste and inefficiency in the federal government as the top priority in efforts to balance the federal budget and improve the U.S. economy.
"Controlling health care costs" followed close behind with 33% of the vote.
Incoming BSX CEO Mahoney’s 2011 total tops $11.5M | Personnel Moves
Mako Surgical names new regulatory VP | Personnel Moves
Mako Surgical (NSDQ:MAKO) tapped Lawrence Gibbons to replace its regulatory affairs vice president, James Keller, who resigned effective Feb. 3.
Gibbons, 60, was most recently with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (NZE:FPH), where he helped establish a manufacturing facility in Mexico and set up the quality system at the company’s New Zealand headquarters.
Duke establishes $20 million biomedical endowment
Duke University has established a new $20 million biomedical endowment to support a program that has had a knack for launching new medical companies, focusing in particular on medical technology.
The new endowment will allow the program to continue at Duke in perpetuity.
Duke was one of nine universities chosen by the Coulter Foundation in 2005 to accelerate technology transfer of university biomedical engineering projects into commercial products and clinical practices.