The U.S. FDA approved Phraxis Inc.’s Endoforce Connector for endovascular venous anastomosis, which eliminates the need for surgical dissection for individuals undergoing hemodialysis for kidney failure. The device is designed to reduce tissue trauma and improve long-term graft performance.

Edwards Lifesciences Corp. released new economic and clinical data on severe aortic stenosis (AS) demonstrating intervening in a patient with the disease before symptoms develop can reduce costs to the health care system by $36,000. Data also shows earlier intervention can also lead to fewer follow-ups and hospitalizations for heart failure, after treatment.

The Trump administration nominated John Squires of the firm of Dilworth Paxson to take the post of director of the Patent and Trademark Office, but the appointment faces a few hurdles.

In what represents their first patenting, researchers from New York’s Stony Brook University filed for protection for development of a system and method that uses computer vision to analyze microscale facial movements in order to objectively help diagnose, monitor, and treat disorders of consciousness.