Boston Scientific Archives - Page 3 of 6

Device developers get creative to connect with physicians

Dr. Farzad Azimpour is SVP of Advanced Technology at Edwards Lifesciences [Photo courtesy of Edwards Lifesciences]

Medical device developers have gotten creative in connecting with surgeons and interventionalists during the pandemic.

Leaders from Abbott, Boston Scientific and Edwards Lifesciences shared some of their experiences, challenges and opportunities with attendees of DeviceTalks West in October.

The chief challenge is the number of physicians, nurses and other medical professionals who have left the field during the pandemic.

“The elephant in the room is that everybody is worried about how we’re going to get things to patients,” said Farzad Azimpour, SVP of Advanced Technology at Edwards Lifesciences. “How do we equip the limited capacity that we have right now — from nursing, physicians, everyone — to enable what we have to actually reach patients in a timely and appropriate manner…

How Boston Scientific is managing labor shortages with cobots and Spanish

Boston Scientific Global Operations EVP Brad Sorenson [Photo courtesy of Boston Scientific]

Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) executives said two labor-shortage strategies are paying off in a big way for the medical device maker, which has around 41,000 employees across the globe.

Collaborative robotics and Spanish-speaking shifts are helping Boston Scientific deal with a global labor shortage that’s been especially acute in the U.S.

That’s according to Global Operations EVP Brad Sorenson and Supply Chain VP Paudie O’Connor, who recently spoke with DeviceTalks Editorial Director Tom Salemi about the difficulty of hiring workers.

“It’s hit us everywhere. Part of that was just general wage inflation. Although we don’t like the cost of that per se, that’s relatively easy to deal with, right? You give people raises and at least the supply continuity problem goes away,&#…

Medtech relief efforts begin after Hurricane Fiona hits Puerto Rico

Hurricane Fiona is still dropping rain on Puerto Rico as it moves toward the Dominican Republic, as seen in this Sept. 19, 2022 satellite imagery. [Image courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]

Power crews are restoring electricity in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Fiona struck with heavy rains and winds five years after Hurricane Maria made landfall.

Many large medtech companies have manufacturing operations in the U.S. island territory.

Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) has not received any reports of significant damage to its five facilities in Puerto Rico and planned to restart operations today if employees are safe and can report to work, the company told Medical Design & Outsourcing. The company also has a manufacturing facility in the Dominican Republic.

“Given the path of Hurricane Fiona, our teams have been monitoring and are continuing to monitor both Puerto Rico and …

Join us at DeviceTalks West, the World’s Fair of Medtech

Intuitive Surgical CEO Gary Guthart will participate in a keynote interview at DeviceTalks West 2022. [Photo courtesy of Intuitive Surgical]

October’s DeviceTalks West conference is focused on the future.

The best-seller “Devil in the White City” may have darkened the perception of world’s fairs, but these international convocations have long presented visitors with an optimistic and hopeful view of the future, thanks in no small part to new technology. (The next one is scheduled for 2025 in Osaka, Japan, by the way.)

I like to think we’ll be following similar guidelines at the upcoming DeviceTalks West conference, which will be held on Oct. 19-20 at the Santa Clara Convention Center.

This event will bring together executives from Abbott, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, Intuitive, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Outset Medical, Penumbra, Shockwave, Zimmer Biomet and many …

The 24 best medical device innovations of 2022

The Galien Foundation recently announced its nominees of medical device innovations for its 2022 Prix Galien USA awards.

There are 24 medical technologies nominated for the annual award this year, up from 18 nominees in 2021.

The Galien Foundation’s annual Prix Galien awards highlight devices, biotechnology and pharmaceutical products designed to improve the human condition.

Nominees need to be FDA-approved for the market within the last five years and show major potential to affect healthcare. The winners will be announced in October at the Prix Galien USA Awards in New York City.

This year, the foundation nominated 24 medical device innovations, 22 biotechnology products and 33 pharmaceutical agents. The devices range from an intraocular lens to a bariatric stapler.

“Every year, evaluating and recognizing the amazing submissions that come through for the Prix Galien Awards is one of the greatest honors,” said Dr. Sue Des…

Boston Scientific whistleblower launches corruption investigation

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) is investigating claims that the company violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in Vietnam.

Marlborough, Massachusetts–based Boston Scientific disclosed receipt of a whistleblower’s allegations in its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“In March 2022, the company received a whistleblower letter alleging Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations in Vietnam. The company is cooperating with government agencies while investigating these allegations,” the company said in its second-quarter 10-Q filing, dated Aug. 4.

More information about the allegations was not available from the filing or a Boston Scientific spokesperson reached by Medical Design & Outsourcing today. The news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) was enacted in 1977 to stop companies and their employees or agents from bribing foreign officials to win or…

Design challenges to overcome when developing cardiac ablation devices

Acutus Medical’s AcQBlate Force sensing ablation catheter. Image courtesy of Acutus Medical

It’s about figuring out how and where to go with the cardiac ablation and then engineering the best catheter-based delivery device, according to a top Acutus Medical scientist.

Cardiac ablation is when a physician intentionally destroys a small amount of tissue in the heart to treat and prevent heart rhythm problems. The procedure creates therapeutic scars in the heart to block the irregular electrical signals that cause an uneven heartbeat.

To perform cardiac ablation, a physician inserts a thin, flexible catheter through veins or arteries into the heart. Sensors on the tip of the catheter detect the electrical signals inside the heart, which allows a cardiologist to pinpoint which area of the heart requires ablation.

Ablation devices mostly use heat (radiofrequency energy), extreme cold (cryoablation)…

July 2022 Issue: Pulsed-field ablation, DeviceTalks Boston and the Pharma 50

What is pulsed-field ablation? Here’s what you need to know

Dexcom CEO expects ‘science boom’ with CGM, automated insulin delivery

Tips for vetting contract manufacturers

They said it at DeviceTalks Boston

FDA can’t explain drop in device recalls, but experts point to COVID disruption

2022 Pharma 50: The 50 largest pharmaceutical companies

Innovators shake up the Pharma 50

As a father raising a toddler and an infant, I was relieved by the latest milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic: the authorization of vaccines for children between 6 months and 5 years.

The good news came as Pharma Editor Brian Buntz and the rest of our team were putting the final touches on this edition’s Pharma 50 project. It’s our annual ranking of the biggest pharmaceutical companies by global revenue, featured on our affiliated Drug Discovery & Development site. (Our Big 100 report on largest medic…

They said it at DeviceTalks Boston

Proximie CEO Nadine Hachach-Haram [Photo courtesy of Proximie]

Medtech insiders convened at DeviceTalks Boston 2022 in May to discuss device design, innovation and trends shaping the industry now and in the years and decades ahead.

Here are some of the most quotable insights from panelists and speakers at our live event.

And make sure to save the date — and save your seat — for DeviceTalks West in Santa Clara, California on Oct. 19 and 20.

Read on to hear what medtech leaders had to say at DeviceTalks Boston 2022.

Next >>

What is pulsed-field ablation? Here’s what you need to know

Top experts at Boston Scientific, Medtronic and Acutus Medical shared insights about pulsed-field ablation’s potential at DeviceTalks Boston.

Part of the Farapulse pulsed-field ablation system, the Farawave single-shot catheter is designed to create durable and circumferential lesions. [Image courtesy of Boston Scientific]

Pulsed-field ablation is a non-thermal method for cardiac ablation that has the potential to positively disrupt the way atrial fibrillation is treated.

PFA’s roots go back to the dc ablation tech of the 1980s. These days, PFA generally involves high-voltage electric pulses from a catheter-delivered electrode or electrodes, delivered each at a tiny fraction of a second. Its potential advantages versus radiofrequency ablation or cryoablation include the characteristic that heart muscle tissue can be especially susceptible to it, while other types of surrounding tissue are injury resistant.

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What is the future of cardiac ablation?

Boston Scientific in July 2021 exercised its option to acquire the remaining shares of PFA tech developer Farapulse. [Image courtesy of Boston Scientific]

Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) — a non-thermal method for cardiac ablation — has the potential to positively disrupt the atrial fibrillation market.

Amid the excitement around the technology, Medtronic announced in January that it would acquire cardiac mapping and ablation technology developer Affera for nearly $1 billion. Meanwhile, Boston Scientific in February closed its $1.75 billion acquisition of Baylis Medical — the creator of advanced transseptal puncture platforms to enhance safety, efficacy and efficiency when crossing the atrial septum to deliver therapies in the left side of the heart. Months before, Boston Scientific exercised its option to acquire the remaining shares of PFA tech developer Farapulse.

Come to DeviceTalks Boston — May 10-11, 2…

DeviceTalks Boston returns with a unique approach for medtech connections and development

DeviceTalks Boston speakers include Meghan Scanlon, senior vice president at Boston Scientific and president of its urology and pelvic health business. [Photo courtesy of Boston Scientific]

A few months back, I wrote what was best described by a colleague as a “salty” column in which I demanded conference organizers like myself step up our game if we expect to bring back attendees.

“For too long, conference organizers have relied upon a potent cocktail of FOMO and habit,” I wrote in one particularly briny portion. “Sure, organizers try to amp up content, introduce cool partnering apps and a few gimmicks. (One recent healthcare meeting had puppies, actual puppies … gimmicky, but intriguing.)”

Here I am, four months later, and I still agree with me!

We’ve been working harder — and smarter — to assemble the agenda of DeviceTalks Boston, coming up May 10…