Libra Medical

Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis Will Likely Benefit From Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

dblaeser — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:05:46 +0000

German researchers report success with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis – a special form of aortic stenosis that is difficult to treat. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/243974.php

Tweet

Device holds promise for acid reflux

dblaeser — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:34:57 +0000

Shoreview-based Torax Medical Inc. sells a device that treats patients with severe acid reflux without invasive surgery. http://www.startribune.com/business/147406345.html

Tweet

FDA Prepares to Unveil Monitoring Program for Medical Devices

dblaeser — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:25:30 +0000

This month, FDA is expected to unveil an improved medical device safety monitoring and reporting program aimed at identifying and removing faulty devices from the market earlier, the Wall Street Journal reports. http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2012/4/11/fda-prepares-to-unveil-monitoring-program-for-medical-device-safety.aspx

Tweet

Franken says U.S. can improve medical device approval process while ensuring safety

dblaeser — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:20:49 +0000

The United States does not have to choose between the vitality of its medical device industry or the health of its people, U.S. Sen. Al Franken said in an interview at the Design of Medical Devices Conference hosted by the University of Minnesota. It is possible to improve both. http://www.startribune.com/blogs/147200025.html

Tweet

St. Jude vs. Medtronic: Who’s Winning the War Over Defibrillator Leads?

dblaeser — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:07:27 +0000

The gloves are off and no one’s pulling any punches in the bitter battle currently underway over defibrillator leads. A study conducted by prominent cardiologist Robert Hauser and his colleagues aimed at assessing deaths associated with St. Jude Medical’s recalled Riata leads and comparing the numbers to Medtronic’s Quattro Secure leads served as the catalyst for the verbal assault. http://www.qmed.com/mpmn/medtechpulse/st-jude-vs-medtronic-whos-winning-war-over-defibrillator-leads#node-77670

Tweet

Senators urge CMS on Sunshine Act

dblaeser — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:16:09 +0000

The authors of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act are urging the CMS to issue its final implementation rule by June, so that data collection and reporting on financial transactions between healthcare providers and the drug, device and group-purchasing industries can begin. http://www.modernphysician.com/article/20120405/MODERNPHYSICIAN/304059961?AllowView=VW8xUmo5Q21TcWJOb1gzb0tNN3RLZ0h0MWg5SVgra3NZRzROR3l0WWRMVGJVUDBFRWxYek9UYktwUGZUamg5b1g4WFFERmhzbHhkSnR6Yk9XcU09&utm_source=link-20120405-MODERNPHYSICIAN-304059961&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mpdaily

Tweet

Abiomed touts 1st human use of catheter-based Impella cVAD

dblaeser — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:34:09 +0000

Abiomed said a Canadian doctor achieved the first successful human use of its Impella cVAD device, which it calls a “paradigm shift” for products designed to assist the hearts of patients too sick for surgery. http://www.massdevice.com/news/abiomed-touts-1st-human-use-catheter-based-impella-cvad

Tweet

Biomet offers $280M to acquire DePuy Orthopaedics’ trauma business

dblaeser — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:19:17 +0000

Biomet Inc. has made a $280 million binding offer to acquire the worldwide trauma business of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. http://www.medcitynews.com/2012/04/biomet-offers-280m-to-acquire-depuy-orthopaedics-trauma-business/

Tweet

St. Jude to Stop Selling Certain Device Wires

dblaeser — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:50:38 +0000

St. Jude Medical will stop selling two types of wires used in devices that treat heart failure because conductive wires in some cases were sticking out of their insulation. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/business/st-jude-to-stop-selling-certain-device-wires.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

Tweet

Medtronic’s Resolute drug-eluting stent proved equal to Abbott’s Xience DES in a “real-world” study of patients with complex lesions, according to results from the Twente trial.

dblaeser — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:39:55 +0000

Medtronic’s (NYSE:MDT) Resolute drug-eluting stent proved non-inferior to Abbott’s (NYSE:ABT) Xience everolimus-eluting stent in an off-label study, including “real world” uses, in patients with complex lesions. http://www.massdevice.com/news/medtronics-resolute-stent-meets-abbotts-xience-real-world-patients