A pair of studies of Abbott’s Xience drug-eluting stent showed no difference between shorter courses of treatment with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) compared with 12 months of DAPT following implantation of the XIENCE drug-eluting stent (DES) in patients who are at a high risk of bleeding. Abbott presented the late-breaking data today at TCT … [Read more...] about Abbott touts Xience DES study results
How fish physiology is enabling Boston Scientific to help atrial fibrillation patients
Company researchers developed cardiac ablation technology that mimics the navigation system of electric fish. Scientists have studied electric fish for decades to determine how and why they discharge electricity. Recently, a couple of biomedical engineers at Boston Scientific realized that the way these fish use their electrical impulses … [Read more...] about How fish physiology is enabling Boston Scientific to help atrial fibrillation patients
Passing the test with vascular stents
Pulsatile durability testing is a time-consuming part of the vascular stent approval process. Accelerated test designs can deliver a high throughput when every specimen counts. Pete Bailey, Instron There are many quality controls applied to the design and release of coronary and other vascular stent devices, but a proof test of pulsatile … [Read more...] about Passing the test with vascular stents
Study: Medtronic’s drug-coated balloon reduces dialysis interruptions
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) recently announced the results of a study showing that some kidney disease patients who had a drug-coated balloon (DCB) implanted to treat arteriovenous (AV) failure experienced fewer interruptions of dialysis treatment. Many end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients require AV fistulae in order to receive continuous dialysis. … [Read more...] about Study: Medtronic’s drug-coated balloon reduces dialysis interruptions
How plasma treatment offers green, cost-efficient preparation of plastics
Surface treatment to prepare medical device components for printing or bonding may require complex cleaning methods or harmful chemicals. Plasma etching for improved adhesion, once limited to low-pressure chambers, is now available at atmospheric pressure. Erhard Krampe, Plasmatreat Conventional methods of surface preparation, treatment … [Read more...] about How plasma treatment offers green, cost-efficient preparation of plastics
How the resumption of elective surgery may spur demand for high-volume surgical instruments
Hospitals' need for single-use surgical instruments may spike as they resume elective procedures following the worst of COVID-19. Outsourcing with a credible tubing partner allows OEMs to focus on core competencies internally and free up other resources for maximum competitive advantage. Jim Jock, Micro As elective surgeries resume during … [Read more...] about How the resumption of elective surgery may spur demand for high-volume surgical instruments
What’s next for nitinol tubing?
Nitinol’s unique properties have made it the darling of the medical device industry. A novel technique for mechanically joining nitinol to other metal tubing could reduce cost and mitigate risk. Mark Broadley, Viant Nitinol has revolutionized the medical device industry. With its flexible superelasticity, shape memory and … [Read more...] about What’s next for nitinol tubing?
Graham Engineering adds extrusion clamp
Graham Engineering announced today that it has added a new extrusion clamp with electro-mechanical actuation to its American Kuhne product line. The AutoGrip power clamp is safer and simpler to operate than manual devices and provides more repeatable clamping forces, according to York, Pa.-based Graham Engineering. It is designed to reduce … [Read more...] about Graham Engineering adds extrusion clamp
Next COVID-19 device shortage? ‘Smart’ infusion pumps
Severely ill COVID-19 patients may need multiple medications delivered by infusion pumps. Manufacturers and hospitals are planning on how to avoid shortages of these pumps and the associated tubing. (Image from Institute for Safe Medication Practices) You’ve likely seen the videos of ICU hallways lined with medical devices that would … [Read more...] about Next COVID-19 device shortage? ‘Smart’ infusion pumps
How catheters are becoming increasingly complex and efficient
As the neurovascular intervention marketplace accelerates toward miniaturization, innovations such as 2.5:1 peelable heat-shrink tubing (PHST), cut-to-length PHST and multi-filar active catheter solutions will come into their own. Joe Rowan, Junkosha Catheters are becoming increasingly complex in terms of the procedures they can be used … [Read more...] about How catheters are becoming increasingly complex and efficient
