Two med-tech companies focused on pulmonary embolism overcame their own blockages to commercialization this week. Inquis Medical Inc.’s Aventus thrombectomy system received U.S. FDA clearance for use in pulmonary embolism, an expanded indication, while Penumbra Inc. completed enrollment in the STORM-PE clinical trial of its Lightning Flash device.

It appears the U.S. FDA believes it’s never a bad time to release regulatory information about devices granted market access via the de novo program. The agency recently posted information on the vintage de novo granted in 2018 to Imagen Technologies Inc. for the company’s Osteo Detect algorithm.

Medtronic plc received U.S. FDA approval for its Omniasecure defibrillation lead for placement in the right ventricle to treat arrhythmias. Medtronic said the lead is the smallest made at 4.7 French or 1.6 mm, making it suitable for individuals as young as age 12 and others with smaller anatomies, particularly women.

Lex Diagnostics Ltd. has submitted dual applications to the U.S. FDA seeking 510(k) clearance and CLIA waiver status for its Velo system, an ultra-fast point-of-care molecular diagnostics platform. The move comes after the recent news from Quidelortho Corp. that it intends to acquire Lex for $100 million following U.S. regulatory approval of the technology.

The European Commission is seeking feedback from stakeholders on the oversight of high-risk AI products, one objective of which is to develop a series of guidelines for classification of high-risk AI systems – a consideration of great interest to med-tech firms doing business in the EU.

The U.S. FDA posted notice of six class I device recalls between June 3 and June 5, 2025, four of which are for corrections.

The U.S. FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health is recovering from a guidance drought that spanned several months in the first part of calendar year 2025, starting with a guidance on the Q-sub process.

The U.S. FDA reported the launch of its in-house generative AI (GenAI) tool, dubbed Elsa, for a variety of purposes. FDA commissioner Marty Makary assuaged industry’s privacy concerns by promising that the algorithm does not train on data submitted by makers of devices and pharmaceuticals.

The U.S. FDA’s decision to grant breakthrough device designation for Bivacor Inc.’s titanium total artificial heart (TAH) sent real hearts aflutter at the Huntington, Calif.-based company’s headquarters. While the designation supports use of the TAH as a bridge to transplant for adults with biventricular or univentricular heart failure for whom current options are insufficient or unsuitable, Bivacor hopes its device will eventually serve as a long-term heart replacement.

The Trump administration released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, which would chop roughly 40% from the NIH budget over the current fiscal year — a proposal that might not find much support on Capitol Hill.