U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Archives

Medtronic to install 115 GI Genius modules across VA facilities

Medtronic’s GI Genius intelligent endoscopy module. [Image courtesy of Medtronic]Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced today that its Gastrointestinal Business received a contract to install GI Genius systems at some Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities.

The contract comes through a partnership with a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB). Medtronic will install 115 GI Genius intelligent endoscopy modules across numerous VA medical facilities in the U.S.

Veterans can now access Medtronic’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The company designed it to improve the accuracy of polyp detection in colonoscopy screening. According to a news release, the Veteran’s Health Administration performs approximately 250,000 colonoscopies each year.

“We’re proud to give back to the men and women who have served our country by extending this powerful and proven tool in the fight against colorectal cancer,” said Geof…

FDA and VA Ventures Innovation Institute partner on new medical device testing tools

Dr. Beth Ripley is the medical device testing collaboration’s project manager for the VA. [Photo courtesy of the Department of Veterans Affairs]

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ VA Ventures Innovation Institute in Seattle will host up to a dozen FDA staffers in a new collaboration to develop and share new tools for medical device testing safety and efficacy.

The agencies intend to provide developers of devices and new technology with off-the-shelf tools that can help streamline regulatory review and get products to patients faster. FDA staff from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) will focus on regulatory science. Their partners at the VA’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will provide clinical context for test development and provide hands-on training and other immersive experiences for innovators wishing to utilize the tools.

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Theranica lands VA contract for migraine device

(Image courtesy of Theranica)

Theranica announced today that it has signed a contract to supply its Nerivio device to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for use by veterans who suffer from chronic migraine headaches.

Nerivio is worn on the upper arm for 45 minutes and uses remote electrical neuromodulation to activate the brain’s native conditioned pain modulation mechanism to treat pain and associated migraine symptoms, according to Theranica. Nerivio was cited as one of TIME’s best inventions of 2019 and recently won FDA clearance for use by adolescents.

Get the full story on our sister site, Medical Design & Outsourcing.

VA hospitals’ PPE supplies inadequate for second wave of COVID-19

Staff at VA New York Harbor Healthcare System (Image from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

U.S. veterans hospitals have only about a 30-day supply of personal protective equipment at the ready for staff use should a second wave of COVID-19 strike the nation, a VA official told a Senate committee this week.

Dr. Richard Stone, executive in charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, testified that the agency operates on a just-in-time supply system for its 170 hospitals and clinics. It was working on improving its supply chain before the coronavirus struck the U.S., but virus-related delays in imports of PPE early in the pandemic disrupted the system.

Get the full story on our sister site, Medical Design & Outsourcing.