The merry month of May is just about kaput, so let’s ask ourselves how entertaining the past five months of May have been. Entertaining, that is, if you’re a med tech geek or wonk, and it’s a cinch you’re one or both of those if you’re reading this. 2008 The May 5, 2008, edition of Medical Device Daily included a story by MDD’s Omar Ford describing the decision by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to cover the use of artificial hearts. The decision was a landmark for patients, but one...

The IATA Biomed Israel conference is planned in Tel Aviv for early next month. The organizing committee is expecting approximately 6,000 visitors, over 1,000 of whom are expected from outside Israel. The conference focuses on life science and device innovations of different stages, from Teva Pharmaceuticals (Petach Tikva), to technology startups with a name, limited IP, and no full-time employees. The environment is ripe for generating new ideas, and especially for local and international networking. Last year's 3,500 one-on-one networking meetings will likely be equaled in number this year, and based on the number of returning guests, there seems to be great promise in the Promised Land.