The U.S. FDA approved the Proclaim XR spinal cord stimulation system by Abbott Laboratories for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). The system offers an alternative to patients for whom oral medications do not provide sufficient relief. About half of individuals with diabetes will eventually develop peripheral neuropathy which primarily damages the nerves running down the legs to the feet. Read More
The U.S. FDA has cleared a first-of-its-kind 4K single-use arthroscope developed by Pristine Surgical LLC to improve the efficiency, consistency, and safety of arthroscopic procedures. The single-use Summit surgical arthroscope is said to deliver a high-definition image using a simple set up and automated inventory management system for improved predictability and workflow. Read More
A French surgical team has performed a robot-assisted kidney auto-transplantation with ex situ tumorectomies for renal cell cancer. This is the world first use of the fourth generation Da Vinci Xi surgical robot from Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Intuitive Surgical Inc. to perform kidney explanation and autotransplantation with removal of multiple and complex tumors outside of a patient's body. Read More
Amber Therapeutics Ltd. reported that three patients have been fitted with its closed loop bioelectrical stimulation device, which it says is the first to modulate the pudendal nerve to directly address urinary continence (UI). Read More
Makers of medical devices and pharmaceuticals face a significant risk of product liability litigation, but the use of third-party funding of such lawsuits is a novelty in the U.S. relative to some other Western nations. Nonetheless, a new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) makes clear that third-party litigation funding (TPLF) is an increasing common practice that seeks to include uninjured parties in mass tort litigation, thus endangering the fortunes of those who invest in life science companies. Read More
New hires and promotions in the med-tech industry, including: Alamaden Genomics, Bridge to Life, Cardiac Dimensions, Elucid, Francis Medical, Know Labs, Tyber Medical, Vitalief. Read More