Archive for May 2016
B Braun to Pay $7.8M for Selling Contaminated Syringes
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania drug and medical device manufacturer has agreed to pay up to $7.8 million for selling contaminated syringes, federal prosecutors say. B. Braun will avoid criminal charges in exchange for implementing procedures to improve oversight of its suppliers, authorities said Wednesday. The company will pay $4.8 million in penalties and…
Read MoreBlind Mom Sees Unborn Baby Through 3D Printed Ultrasound
These days, most expectant parents take for granted that they’ll get a first glimpse of their unborn child through an ultrasound months before the baby actually arrives. For many moms-to-be, it has become a cherished part of the bonding process. But mothers who are visually impaired haven’t been able to share the experience — until…
Read MoreMedtronic Announces Launch of Spine Essentials
Medtronic announced the U.S. launch of the Spine Essentials, a platform of spinal implants and instruments to make cervical spine fusion surgeries more efficient and to help hospital systems manage costs while ensuring quality, according to a company release. “Health care systems are under intense economic challenges, and Spine Essentials is an example of how…
Read MoreBone Cement Leaks into Bloodstream and Causes Clotting
Reba Golden hurt her back after falling two floors while building an addition to her house in Honduras. But when she returned to Seattle for a routine spinal surgery, she suffered blood clots, severe bleeding and died in 2007 on the operating table. Joan Bryant’s back had bothered her since a car accident, so in…
Read MoreNew Implantable Childrens VAD for Severe Heart Failure
The number of children with severe heart failure is increasing. Over the last decade, ventricular assist devices (VADs) have become the standard of care in the management of severe heart failure. In adults, implantable VADs (i.e. pumps placed within the chest) are used exclusively, due in part to favorable risk profiles and, more importantly, the…
Read MoreCervical Spine CT Outnumbers Radiography in ED
Cervical spine imaging in the emergency department (ED) represents the largest portion of growth in CT use, according to a presentation at the 2016 annual meeting of the American College of Radiology. Researchers from Georgia and Virginia undertook a study to assess the changing utilization of cervical spine imaging in the ED. Using national aggregate…
Read MoreHighest Paying Healthcare Companies in America
It might not be hard to find a high-paying job in healthcare — the industry dominates lists of best-paying careers — but finding a healthcare company that pays well and emphasizes employees’ happiness is a tall order. Business Insider teamed up with PayScale, a compensation software and data company, to find the best all-around healthcare companies that pay…
Read MorePfizer to buy Anacor in $5.2 Billion Deal
Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) is buying Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc (ANAC.O) in a $5.2 billion deal to add an eczema gel to its portfolio, just a month after the U.S. drug major scrapped plans to acquire Allergan Plc (AGN.N). Anacor shares surged as much as 56 percent to $99.94 on Monday, above the offer price of $99.25…
Read MoreLet the Regulation Begin! FDA Issues Guidance for 3D-Printed Medical Devices
According to market research firm Gartner, medical 3D printing is at the forefront of both the progress and mass adoption of 3D printing overall. Evidence of this is popping up worldwide, from the 3D-printed prosthetics being produced by various groups and patient-specific pre-surgical models to the first 3D-printed medication on the market. What has been…
Read MoreSpecial Stimulated Cartilage Could Help Repair Hard to Heal Bones
Stem cells could one day be stimulated to make a special type of cartilage to help repair large, hard-to-heal bone fractures – a potential boon for doctors treating big-money athletes, USC researchers say. Gage Crump, senior author, and his colleagues used the regeneration of zebrafish jawbone to show that the processes required for embryonic development…
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