Terumo Corp. (TYO:4543) said today it’s expanding its distribution partnership with Olympus (TYO:7733) to include its Glidewire endoscopic hydrophilic coated guidewire designed for endoscopic treatment of the biliary and pancreatic systems. Olympus will be the exclusive distributor in the U.S. for Terumo’s device effective immediatley. The guidewire is designed for gastroenterological procedures as a complement to […]
Olympus
Olympus recalls select endoscopes over heat issue
Olympus (TYO:7733) said today it is initiating a select recall of its EndoEye HD II endoscopes over issues with damaged temperature sensors causing the distal ends of the device to become ‘abnormally hot’. The devices are used during endoscopy and endoscopic surgeries along with other tools within the thoracic and abdominal cavities, including the female reproductive organs, […]
Mauna Kea looks to Medtronic, Stryker, others for help in commercializing Cellvizio
Mauna Kea (ENT:MKEA) founder & CEO Sacha Loiseau is looking to some of the biggest names in medtech for help in commercializing its Cellvizio device in the U.S. after winning 510(k) clearance from the FDA last month. Paris-based Mauna Kea could ink a deal by the end of the year that would allow it to speed Cellvizio to market […]
Update: British prosecutor drops case against Japan’s Olympus
Updated: Includes lawyer comments and expanded background (Reuters) — Britain’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on Tuesday scrapped a two-year prosecution of Olympus Corp stemming from a $1.7 billion accounting scandal that centered on the Japanese endoscope maker’s acquisition of a British company in 2008. Olympus’s board resigned and three former executives and the company itself pleaded […]
FDA orders ‘scope makers to launch postmarket studies
The FDA today ordered a trio of Japanese duodenoscope makers to run post-market surveillance studies to evaluate how the devices are reprocessed in real-world conditions, after a deadly rash of so-called “superbug” outbreaks this year were linked to the devices. The string of deadly infections were attributed to duodenoscopes made by Olympus (TYO:7733), Fujifilm Holdings (TSE:4901) and Hoya‘s (TYO:7741) Pentax subsidiary. The devices are used for […]
Olympus, Sony to debut hi-def endoscope
(Reuters) — Sony Corp. (TYO:6758) and Olympus (TYO:7733) said they plan to unveil an ultra high-definition surgical endoscope this week, the 1st major product from a joint venture formed 3 years ago. The product allows physicians to view clearer, more instant images of internal organs, aiding precision during surgical procedures, the medical device makers told Reuters ahead of an […]
Toshiba ditches Kone elevator biz for $943m
Toshiba (TYO:6502) today said it closed a deal worth nearly $943 million for its Kone Corp. elevator and escalator business, as it looks to recover from a $1.2 billion accounting scandal that’s already claimed it senior management team. The Japanese conglomerate said the €35.75-per-share deal, valued at €864.7 million, is expected to yield profits of about $102.9 million […]
Justice expands endoscope ‘superbug’ probe
(Reuters) — The U.S. Justice Dept. subpoenaed 2 more manufacturers of medical scopes linked to deadly “superbug” outbreaks in recent weeks, USA Today reported, citing 2 sources familiar with the investigation. Last week, reports revealed 1 duodenoscope manufacturer, Olympus (TYO:7733), was being investigated by the federal agency, but the broader reach of the investigation, including subpoenas to other makers Fujifilm Holdings (TSE:4901) […]