Medtronic plc won expanded FDA 510(k) approval for its Arctic Front family of cardiac cryoablation catheters for alternative treatment of recurrent symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) as an alternative to the current standard first-line treatment, antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy. The Arctic Front family of catheters are the first catheter ablation devices in the U.S. approved to help physicians improve AF patient outcomes before drug failure. They have also been proven to shorten the time to diagnosis, according to Dublin-based Medtronic.

It’s not unusual for women to have some uterine contractions during pregnancy. Many of these go unnoticed, but others can be strong and feel like labor. Distinguishing between normal contractions and those that are not can help ensure women at risk of preterm labor get the extra medical care they need. To that end, Tel Aviv-based Nuvo Group Ltd. has launched an FDA-cleared uterine activity (UA) module on its Invu remote monitoring platform.

The FDA granted Neurescue a "two-fer" on its intelligent balloon catheter for aortic occlusion with 510(k) clearance for emergency control of hemorrhage and investigational device exemption for use in cardiac arrest. By inflating a soft balloon at diaphragm level, the device dramatically increases perfusion to the heart, brain and lungs within a minute of deployment via the femoral artery.

Cymedica Orthopedics Inc. received FDA clearance for its Intellihab system to reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis in the knee. The system uses neuromuscular electrical stimulation to strengthen muscles supporting the knee without requiring typical exercises such as squats that could increase pain and further degrade the joint. Intellihab includes a knee brace that emits the pulses and a smartphone app patients use to track and manage the therapy.

Edwards Lifesciences Corp. has won the FDA’s nod for its Acumen hypotension prediction index (HPI) software with the Acumen IQ finger cuff. Prior to receiving this 510(k) clearance, the low blood pressure prediction software was only available for patients using an invasive arterial line. The Acumen HPI software uses data gleaned from the Acumen IQ cuff, along with machine learning, to alert clinicians if a patient is at risk of hypotension, drops in pumping pressure that reduce the flow of oxygenated blood and nutrients to the body’s vital organs.

Medical devices have had to deal with a large body of uncertainty where patent protection is concerned, thanks principally to jurisprudence arising out of the Supreme Court. However, Mark Mansour, a regulatory attorney with the D.C. office of Dykema Gossett PLLC, said on a recent webinar that even in the absence of a patent, de novo devices can gain some market exclusivity with smart use of labeling, a practice that can help ensure that the developer can achieve the needed return on investment.

Motus GI Holdings Inc. received FDA 510(k) clearance to use its Pure-Vu system in upper gastrointestinal endoscopies, expanding the system’s indications from use only in colonoscopies. Pure-Vu removes blood, blood clots and debris from the GI tract, allowing endoscopists to see sources of bleeding and other issues while leaving the endoscope's working channel available for other uses.

Additive manufacturing, often referred to as 3D printing, has evolved considerably over the past few decades, and plays a significant role in the world of orthopedic devices. Despite numerous technological advances, additive manufacturing (AM) still accounts for a small share of the device market and may never overwhelm traditional manufacturing for the med-tech industry due to a number of limitations.

Molli Surgical Inc. has won the FDA’s nod for its wire-free localization technology for breast cancer surgery. The company said the Molli system helps radiologists tag cancerous lesions quickly and precisely, facilitating surgical excision and eliminating a source of anxiety associated with breast tumor removal.

Atricure Inc. has received the green light from the FDA for its Epi-Sense guided coagulation system with Visitrax technology to treat patients diagnosed with long-standing, persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). The device was previously cleared via a 510(k) for the coagulation of cardiac tissue, and is already available in the U.S. The FDA approval represents the first and only minimally invasive ablation therapy for the more than 3 million Americans with longstanding AF.