The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized policies that increase access to artificial hearts and ventricular assist devices (VADs). In August, CMS proposed the coverage policy updates meant to increase access to VADs and artificial hearts, which represented potentially good news for major VAD makers Abbott (NYSE:ABT) and Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) and for people with heart failure who […]
Structural Heart
Boston Scientific CEO Mike Mahoney talks Lotus decision, post-COVID outlook
Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) made waves this month when it recalled and retired its Lotus TAVR product line. Subsequent layoffs, first in Minnesota, then in Ireland, highlighted the impact of the decision to pull Lotus from the highly competitive market as a result of complexities related to the product delivery system and solely that — as the […]
Next-gen MitraClip performs as well as earlier version
The award-winning next-generation MitraClip from Abbott (NYSE:ABT) reportedly performs as well as the previous version of the heart valve technology. According to reports in TCTMD, analysis presented by Abbott last week from its EXPAND registry compares favorably with outcomes seen in the landmark COAPT trial back in 2018. EXPAND was conducted across 57 locations in the […]
Vectorious’ in-heart microcomputer wins FDA breakthrough nod
Vectorious Medical Technologies today announced that the FDA has granted breakthrough device designation for the company’s left atrial pressure (LAP) monitoring device. The V-LAP system is the first digital, wireless, battery-free device that can communicate from deep within the body using high-resolution waveform morphology, according to the Tel Aviv-based startup. Because the pressure of the […]
Boston Scientific’s Lotus layoffs extend to Ireland
Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) has reportedly confirmed job losses at its Galway, Ireland, location, following the retirement of the Lotus Edge. Galway Bay FM reported today that the Marlborough, Mass.-based company confirmed the job losses at its Ireland location, adding that Boston Scientific confirmed the job loss will affect fewer than 30 employees. The report said that […]
Boston Scientific to lay off 106 following Lotus Edge heart valve retirement
Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) is set to lay off 106 employees in Minnesota following the retirement of its Lotus Edge device, according to reports. Bring Me the News reported that the company is permanently laying off the 106 workers at its Maple Grove, Minn. location, having notified the state of Minnesota via a WARN letter, as is […]
Boston Scientific throws in the towel on Lotus TAVR
Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) announced today that it has initiated a global, voluntary recall of its Lotus Edge aortic valve system — and is immediately retiring the Lotus program. Marlborough, Mass.-based Boston Scientific said in a news release that the recall of all unused inventory of its Lotus Edge transcatheter aortic valve repair (TAVR) system is due […]
DTW Podcast: Where will Intuitive find future growth? Abbott’s Moat on how population boom will boost demand
In this episode of the DeviceTalks Weekly Podcast, we’ll talk with Intuitive Surgical’s Julian Nikolchev, senior vice president, corporate development and strategy, and Dr. Oliver Keown, director of Intuitive Ventures, about the new $100 million venture fund. How will the capital be invested? Where does Intuitive see the opportunity, and how does the program fit […]
Abbott launches next-gen 3D cardiac mapping platform in Europe, Australia
Abbott (NYSE:ABT) announced today that it received CE Mark and Australian approval for its new EnSite X EP system. EnSite X EP is touted as the only system that allows for navigation of the cardiac anatomy in two different ways through the same lone platform. The new cardiac mapping platform builds upon Abbott’s electrophysiology portfolio with […]
The most innovative medical device of 2020
Abbott (NYSE:ABT) announced today that it received the 2020 Prix Galien USA Award for Best Medical Technology for its MitraClip system. MitraClip, Abbott Park, Ill.-based Abbott’s minimally invasive transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) system, was chosen from a field of 17 other nominees, according to a news release. MitraClip is delivered to the heart through a […]
Abiomed slides despite beating The Street in Q2
Abiomed (NSDQ:ABMD) shares took a hit today on second-quarter results that beat the consensus forecast. The Danvers, Mass.-based company posted profits of $62.2 million, or $1.36 per share, on sales of $209.8 million for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2020, nearly quadrupling its bottom line on sales growth of 2.3%. Adjusted to exclude one-time items, […]
