Swiss-based manufacturer Haselmeier inked a deal with Common Sensing to develop a smart, connected drug-delivery device for people who use injectable medications. The companies plan to combine Haselmeier’s subcutaneous injection technology with Common Sensing’s Gocap injector monitor. The product, which will be sold by Haselmeier, will record the time and dose of every injection and […]
Technology
DHS warns on cyber vulnerability with BD’s Pyxis drug-dispensing devices
An array of medication-management systems from Becton Dickinson (NYSE: BDX) are vulnerable to the industry-wide KRACK key-reinstallation cyber attack, according to the company and to the Dept. of Homeland Security. The glitch, which was first reported last year, is a vulnerability in the WPA2 protocol for securing Wi-Fi that can imperil the confidentiality and integrity of communication […]
This new PTFE seal could make insulin pumps and other medical devices better
In dynamic applications requiring sealing at low-to-moderate speeds and pressures, design engineers are replacing underperforming elastomeric O-rings with spring-energized PTFE “C-ring” seals. David Wang, Bal Seal Engineering When O-rings and other traditional sealing methods fail, diagnostic and drug-delivery equipment engineers are embracing a new and more cost-effective way to improve the performance of their existing […]
Livongo Health acquires weight-management, disease-prevention dev Retrofit
Livongo Health said yesterday it acquired weight-management and disease-prevention program developer Retrofit for an undisclosed amount. With the acquisition, Mountain View, Calif.-based Livongo Health said it will make Retrofit’s Diabetes Prevention program available as Livongo DPP, powered by Retrofit. Livongo said the acquisition acts as a compliment to its Livongo for Diabetes and Livongo for Hypertension […]
Livongo raises $105m for digital diabetes management platform
Livongo Health closed a $105 million round led by a group of investors including General Catalyst, Merck Global Health Innovation Fund and Echo Health Ventures. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company has developed Livongo for Diabetes – a collection of connected devices that enable people with diabetes to interact with a virtual care team. “We are particularly […]
FDA approves first AI-powered device to detect diabetic retinopathy
The FDA today approved the first medical device to harness artificial intelligence for the detection of diabetic retinopathy in adults who have diabetes. IDx’s software uses an algorithm to analyze images of the eye taken with a retinal camera. A doctor uploads the images to a cloud server with IDx-DR software, which then tells the […]
Machine-learning model helps detect diabetic patients at risk for kidney damage
Medial EarlySign touted data today from a study of its algorithm designed to identify diabetic patients who have the highest risk of developing renal dysfunction. The company’s machine-learning model looks at data from electronic health records to make predictions about patients’ health. In this study, the company reported that the algorithm identified 45% of patients who […]
How conversations with virtual people could help mitigate the opioid crisis
It often starts in the doctor’s office or the emergency room. A patient has broken their leg and will be in pain for weeks. Another patient has had back surgery and is on their way home, but it will take time before they’re fully recovered. A third patient has returned for a consult about the […]
Medtech stories we missed this week: Dec. 8, 2017
From Minimus Spine’s European distribution deal to Stimwave receiving FDA clearance, here are seven medtech stories we missed this week but thought were still worth mentioning. 1. Minimus Spine inks EU distribution deal Minimus Spine announced in a Dec. 4 press release that it has signed its first European distribution deal with Italian company Moss […]
Silicone patch for laser-assisted tattoo removal wins new FDA clearance
Merz North America said today that its Describe PFD patch was cleared by the FDA for all commonly-used lasers. The single-use, perfluorodecalin-infused patch is used during laser-assisted tattoo removal to allow for multiple passes in a single treatment session. Merz’s dual-layer patch was first cleared by the FDA in April 2015 for use with the 755 […]
