Archive for January 2018
3 Medtech Sectors Showing Positive Growth
Mike Matson, a medtech analyst at Needham & Co., kicked off earnings season with a recent report on three sectors he thinks grew last quarter, compared to the previous quarter, based on early earnings announcements from several companies. Matson noted that 12 of the firm’s 21 covered companies preannounced fourth-quarter 2017 results, and all but…
Read MoreSmart Inhaler Tracks Administration of Single-Use Smartpod Filled with Medical Marijuana
The legalization of marijuana in Canada is imminent, and Toronto-based startup Resolve Digital Health hopes it is uniquely positioned to take advantage of it with its smart medical device system. Dubbed Breeze, the technology is designed to provide a more accurate, metered medical marijuana solution. It uses single-use Smartpods filled with cannabis buds or oil, which is then…
Read MoreRobotic Exoskeleton Gives Super-Strength to Wearer by Tenfold
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently gave its stamp of approval to Cyberdyne. But don’t worry: Skynet isn’t on the cards just yet. In fact, it’s a Japanese robotics company that just so happens to have the same name as the company from the Terminator movies, which is responsible for blowing up mankind.…
Read MoreGoodbye Medical Device Tax… at Least for 2 Years
It’s time to kiss the medical device tax goodbye, again. The stopgap spending deal that cleared the Senate and the House on Monday contained an unexpected surprise for medtech: a two-year suspension of the 2.3% medical device tax. President Trump signed off on the bill Monday night. “This suspension is good news for American patients and…
Read More19 Spine and Orthopedic Medical Device Companies to Watch in 2018
2017 was filled with mergers, acquisitions, and FDA approvals, and the momentum has not seemed to stop. Here are 19 spine and orthopedic devices companies to watch in 2018 based on their success in 2017. Alphatec (Carlsbad, Calif.) After making leadership changes this year, Alphatec expects to see around $101.4 million in full-year 2017 revenue,…
Read MoreMedrobotics® Corporation Receives FDA Clearance for World’s First and Only Flexible Transabdominal and Transthoracic Robotic Scope
RAYNHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Medrobotics Corp., a medical robotics company, announced today it has received FDA regulatory clearance to market the Flex® Robotic System for robot-assisted visualization in general surgical, gynecological and thoracic procedures in the United States. This clearance reaffirms the Company’s progress to develop transformative products for single-port general, gynecological, thoracic and urological surgeries. “With this…
Read MoreKinsa the Crowdsourced Smart Thermometer Data Now Rivals the CDC at Tracking Flu Trends
Kinsa is one of the leading digital health companies in the smart thermometer space, but the company’s mission has never been to sell thermometers. Instead, Kinsa has always seen itself as a big data company. With the recent public launch of Kinsa Insights, that aspect of the company is taking center stage. “The core hypothesis of…
Read MoreWhen You Need A Breast Screening, Should You Get A 3-D Mammogram?
When I went to the imaging center for my regular mammogram last year, the woman behind the desk asked me if I’d like to get a “3-D” mammogram instead of the standard test I’d had in the past. “It’s more accurate,” she said. What do you say to that? “No, thanks, I’d rather have the…
Read MoreFDA clears “first ever” 3D printed spine implant to treat of multiple injuries
Metal additive manufacturing has hit on a clear niche within the healthcare industry for producing small and complex medical grade implants at scale. Many 3D printing companies working within medicine have a portfolio of devices for the purpose, typically including a sample of 3D printed cages used to support the spine. However, in what is tipped to be…
Read MoreEfforts to Kill Reinstated Medical Device Tax Ramping Up
Congressional efforts to kill the newly reinstated medical device tax are ramping up. A short-term federal spending plan proposed this week by House Republican leaders would suspend the 2.3 percent sales tax for two years, retroactive to Jan. 1. Congress has until Saturday to extend spending or risk a government shutdown. Meantime, Massachusetts’ Democratic senators have introduced legislation that would eliminate the tax. “Until we have a bill that’s…
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