Stryker Neurovascular (Kalamazoo, Michigan) reported that its Trevo Pro Retriever has been granted 510(k) market clearance by the FDA. The Trevo Pro Retriever is the next generation in clot removal technology from Stryker, using its Stentriever technology for optimized clot integration and retrieval in patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke.

Appropriate use of imaging is nearly always under scrutiny as doctors and hospitals try to improve quality while containing costs, especially in cardiology where the potential consequences of incorrect diagnosis have led to overuse of coronary CT angiography (CCTA).

Abbott (Abbott Park, Illinois) reported FDA approval for its Omnilink Elite vascular balloon-expandable stent system for the treatment of iliac artery disease, a form of peripheral artery disease (PAD) that affects the lower extremities. Iliac artery disease can progress to where patients experience chronic pain and reduced ability to walk, potentially leading to permanent disability.

The FDA has cleared the first single-platform femtosecond laser designed for cataract and corneal surgery. Bausch + Lomb (B+L; Aliso Viejo, California) and Technolas Perfect Vision (TPV; Munich) today reported receiving 510(k) clearance to market the Victus femtosecond laser platform in the U.S. According to the companies, the Victus platform is the first femtosecond laser capable of supporting cataract and corneal procedures on a single platform. The versatile system is designed to provide greater precision compared to manual cataract surgery techniques, potentially enhancing patient experience, the companies noted.

Proteus Digital Health (Redwood City, California) has received FDA clearance for its ingestible sensor technology for marketing as a medical device.

Midwest healthcare startups are off to a strong start compared to this time last year in terms of raising funds from venture capital investors. The region's healthcare industry reported $491 million in total investments across 92 companies in the first half of 2012, according to the annual BioEnterprise Midwest Health Care Venture Investment report. The totals are the highest recorded for the region among the last five years both in dollars of financing and number of companies receiving investment, though still below the 2007 records, the organization reported.

Cleveland is known for many things: the Cleveland Clinic; the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; and the city's de facto anthem, "Cleveland Rocks," a 1979 rock song by Ian Hunter. But one of Cleveland's lesser known strengths is its orthopedic device industry, which goes back to the days of a local startup company called AcroMed.