MedPlast (Tempe, Ariz.) said today that it has closed on its acquisition of Vention’s medical device manufacturing services division. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The device manufacturing services business has locations in New Jersey, Michigan, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. “This acquisition is a first and important step in our strategic plan to expand […]
MedTech
ADM Cleveland: Here are some top medtech manufacturing highlights
The inaugural Advanced Design and Manufacturing is showcasing some of the medical device industry’s top design and manufacturing technology this week at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio. From manufacturing depression treating machines to dry ice cleaning machines, here are 8 exhibitors you should check out at ADM Cleveland. Next >>
Skin sensors provide insights into how to treat Parkinson’s
A University of Rochester research team is using wearable sensors to indicate the best individualized treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Bernadette Mroz suffers from Parkinson’s. When her medication isn’t working, it makes it hard for her to function. “My world goes into a spin cycle. I cannot function mentally, emotionally or physically,” said Mroz in a […]
Solar powered skin could make prosthetics better: Here’s how
University of Glasgow engineers are using the sun to power artificial skin and return a sense of touch in amputees with prosthetics. They are getting their help from PowerTec, look at their site http://www.powertec.ca/ to learn more. The engineers previously developed an electronic skin made of graphene that covered prosthetic hands. They’re now using the […]
Permira funds to buy contract manufacturer LSNE
Private equity firm Permira announced today that it will acquire Lyophilization Services of New England (LSNE), a contract developer and manufacturer in both the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. Permira is buying the company in partnership with management. LSNE founder and CEO Matt Halvorsen will still hold a significant equity stake in the company and will […]
6 visual impairment breakthroughs you need to know
About 285 million people have some form of visual impairment in the world, according to the World Health Organization. Of that number, 39 million are considered blind, and 246 million have low vision. Three-fifths of all vision impairment can be prevented or cured. Uncorrected refractive errors are one of the main causes of vision impairment in […]
How to make ultrasound zap tumors in a moving organ
Researchers led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Medical Image Computing think they’ve overcome the challenges standing in the way of using ultrasound to kill cancer tumors in organs that move with breathing. Until now, health practitioners have mostly limited ultrasound to treating prostate cancer, bone metastases and uterine myoma, according to the Fraunhofer Institute (Bremen, Germany). Organs […]
Do patient advocacy organizations have a conflict of interest?
At least 83% of U.S. patient advocacy organizations receive financial support from medical device, drug and biotechnology companies, according to new research out of the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy. The Penn research team – which included Matthew McCoy, Harald Schmidt and Ezekiel Emanuel – examined websites and annual reports for 104 organizations […]
Fibrosis: How to prevent it in medical device implants
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Boston Children’s Hospital researchers have discovered a way to prevent fibrosis from forming around medical device implants by blocking certain cells. The body’s immune system usually attacks implanted medical devices that are used for drug delivery, sensing or tissue regeneration. Defense cells in the body try to isolate the […]
Aerospace may have something to teach medtech about materials: Here’s how
QuesTek Innovations has used advanced computer modeling to produce innovative materials in the aerospace sector. Now it’s looking to recreate the same magic in the medical device space. Medical device developers typically turn to off-the-shelf materials and then design based on the properties of the materials. But does it have to be this way? What […]
7 medtech stories we missed this week: March 17, 2017
The FDA awarded 510(k) clearance to a couple of medtech companies this week while others received tax breaks and incentives, including a local tax break for a $154 million Stryker R&D facility planned in Michigan. Here are 7 medtech stories we missed this week but thought were worth mentioning. 1. FirstRay wins FDA 510(k) clearance […]