Johnson & Johnson (J&J) aims to add a fourth cardiac business to its portfolio in less than two years with the acquisition of V-Wave Ltd., which makes the Ventura interatrial shunt system for the treatment of heart failure. J&J will pay $600 million up front and an additional $1.1 billion contingent on meeting specified regulatory and commercial milestones. The deal is slated to close before the end of the year.

An implanted deep brain stimulator that calibrates its electrical pulses based on changes in brain activity reduced patients’ most bothersome symptoms of Parkinson’s disease 50%, a small feasibility study published in Nature Medicine found.

In response to the continuing opioid epidemic, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brigham and Women’s Hospital developed a small implantable device that monitors heart rate, respiration and other vital signs indicative of an overdose, then automatically releases a dose of naloxone.

In response to the continuing opioid epidemic, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brigham and Women’s Hospital developed a small implantable device that monitors heart rate, respiration and other vital signs indicative of an overdose, then automatically releases a dose of naloxone.

In what represents the first patenting to emerge in the assignee’s name, additional protection is being sought for Rapidpulse Inc.’s aspiration system, which delivers high-frequency pulsed vacuum forces to increase the efficiency of aspiration thrombectomy and remove thrombus from the neurovasculature.

Minneapolis-based Smiths Medical Inc., recalled two entries in the company’s CADD-Solis line of ambulatory infusion pumps due to problems with the preloaded software.

China will deepen its health care reforms and will focus on enhancing its public health care capacity at the primary care level and at public hospitals, according to resolutions passed at the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in July.

Esperto Medical Inc. could soon offer a non-invasive method for blood pressure measurement for critically ill patients based on results seen in a study published in PNAS Nexus. Esperto’s Resonance Sonomanometry technology uses acoustic stimulation with ultrasound imaging to provide continuous, non-invasive readings.

Emvision Medical Devices Ltd. unveiled a portable brain scanning helmet for first responders to quickly identify whether a patient is experiencing a stroke and, if so, what type.

Swiss scientists developed hydrogel implants that could help prevent and treat endometriosis by blocking the fallopian tubes and stopping the passage of endometrial cells. The implants, though in their early stage of development, bode well for the millions of women suffering from the chronic condition.