Telepresence technology is accelerating medical device development while broadening and deepening relationships between medtech companies and their customers

An expanding customer base, rapidly advancing technology and intense cost pressures are driving medtech companies to use surgical telepresence to cost effectively meet customer needs, enhance customer relationships, develop new products faster and empower healthcare providers to raise the standard of care.

By Daniel Hawkins, Avail Medsystems

The Avail Medsystems console brings remote experts into the operating room virtually. [Photo courtesy of Avail Medsystems]

The medical technology medtech industry is relentlessly challenged to efficiently maintain growth, fund innovation, and provide an appropriate return to shareholders. Over the last decade, this has become increasingly difficult due to myriad challenges resulting from rapid expansion in the number of sites of service, declining reimbursement, relentless pricing pressures and increasing technical complexity across the industry.

Throughout my 30-yea…

Read more
  • 0

How Medtronic and Avail will accelerate stroke care innovation

Avail Medsystems’ consoles connect neurosurgeons with Medtronic Neurovascular sales reps, commercial teams and stroke experts. [Image courtesy of Avail]

Medtronic Neurovascular and Avail Medsystems have signed an agreement to use Avail’s operating room consoles during stroke procedures, the leaders of both businesses told Medical Design & Outsourcing this week.

Medtronic will pay to place several hundred Avail consoles around the U.S. in the next few years. The deal enables the medtech giant to connect virtually with neurosurgeons, Medtronic Neurovascular President Dan Volz said in an interview. (Read more details of the deal at our sister publication MassDevice.)

Avail’s consoles provide live-streaming video, audio and imaging data between surgeons in operating rooms and experts elsewhere. They can watch on a laptop or tablet and offer real-time feedback.

Read more

  • 0

Medtronic Neurovascular goes remote with Avail Medsystems deal

Avail Medsystems’ consoles connect neurosurgeons with Medtronic Neurovascular sales reps, commercial teams and stroke experts. [Image courtesy of Avail]Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) Neurovascular will pay to use hundreds of Avail Medsystems consoles in operating rooms across the country under a first-of-its-kind deal, leaders of both businesses told MassDevice this week.

The Medtronic unit will use Avail’s operating room telepresence technology to connect virtually with neurosurgeons and other care providers as they treat stroke patients, Medtronic Neurovascular President Dan Volz said in an interview. The deal covers several hundred Avail consoles, he said.

Avail Medsystems’ consoles send video, audio and imaging data to remote users of the Avail app on laptops and tablets. [Image courtesy of Avail]Additionally, the consoles will let surgeons confer with other physicians and experts over the system. Avail’s system offers two-way visual, audio and data…
Read more
  • 0