We have been hearing a lot about the death of innovation in the field of medical technology for the past few years, a victim; it would appear, of a sluggish worldwide economy and more stringent regulation and reimbursement policies. However, a closer look reveals that medical device innovation is still very much alive, and will continue to thrive both in the U.S. and overseas. Medical Device Daily’s “Med-Tech on a Mission: Strategies to Drive Innovation” addresses the status, prospects and challenges that epitomize this market and identifies distinctive research agendas and tactical business development approaches that have the proven records,...

By Steve Deaton MDD Perspectives Contributing Writer Editor’s note: Steve Deaton is the vice president of sales at Viztek, a provider of complete digital software and hardware imaging solutions for the med-tech industry. In healthcare there is an evolving trend of making data accessible and easily sharable, and this change is being enabled through cloud-based infrastructure.. The cloud eliminates the need for on-site server space and maintenance through virtual servers that are both secure and flexible. A broad shift to cloud services in healthcare will have multiple implications for both physicians and their patients. The Cloud Brings Changes for Patients...

With all the acrimony between Democrats and Republicans in Congress these days, it was truly edifying to see lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agreeing on a piece of legislation - and in the healthcare sector no less - the FDA user fee reauthorization act. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives reaffirmed passage of the FDA user fee reauthorization act in a 387-5 roll call vote taken after an earlier voice vote. The House affirmation followed close on the heels of the earlier congenial vote on the act by the Senate, a nearly unanimous 96-1 approval. The groundwork...

In the March 15 issue of Medical Device Daily, there were two stories that discussed the medical technology industry in the U.S., and neither of them cast a particularly flattering light on the current state of affairs. In fact, it appears that this once proud and successful domestic industry is on life support. Perhaps the most credible criticism came from Tom Fogarty, a legendary entrepreneur in the medical device field. In a story written by Senior Staff Writer Amanda Pedersen, Fogarty asserted that “it’s reached a point in the field of medicine that we in the U.S. are no longer...

Hopefully not lost in all the comings and goings of more than 8,500 people at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco last week were some important take-home messages about the future of med-tech, a future that promises many challenges for the industry, but also many rewards for those willing to follow promising trends. 1. Healthcare Information Technology is going to be big this year and probably into the foreseeable future. This is the final year in which hospitals and physicians can demonstrate meaningful use and get maximum healthcare dollars under the stimulus, so there should probably be some clarification...

SAN FRANCISCO —− Attendees who stuck around until the end of Wednesday were blessed with a real treat, a chance to pick the brain of the head of the Center for Devices and Regulatory Health (CDRH), Jeff Shuren, MD. While there was no actual cannibalism involved, entrepreneurs certainly hungered to hear some good news from someone so closely involved with regulatory policy from Washington. (Medical Device Daily)

SAN FRANCISCO The large healthcare systems are an extremely important customer for companies involved in the healthcare sector, and if these companies aren't thinking about how to keep these deep-pocketed customers happy, they do so at their own peril.

SAN FRANCISCO Just a couple of blocks away from the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, the much smaller OneMedForum conference on healthcare was moving along at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. A Tuesday morning track on diagnostics held attendees in thrall, with several intriguing private companies vying for the affections, and potentially, funding from investors. (Medical Device Daily)