Top Device Companies

Siemens Hearing Aid Unit Said Target Of Synthes-Cochlear Combo

Siemen AG’s hearing-aid unit is reported to be the target of Synthes and Cochlear, two competing device makers. Synthes, of Switzerland, and Cochlear, of Australia, have formed a team with five equity firms to buy the Siemens unit. Siemens, of Germany, sells one fourth of the hearing aids sold around the world. Neither Synthes nor Cochlear would comment on the report. (Click here for more)

“Synthes, Cochlear Pursue Siemens Unit—Sources” – Reuters (1/22/10)

Hot Off the Presses: Medical Device Market 2009: Interventional Cardiology - This 86-page Special Report from IN VIVO identifies the most important trends in cardiology devices in recent years, teases out the critical decisions that drove those developments, and takes you behind the scenes and into the minds of the architects of these new technologies and business strategies. Find out more...

Synthes Donates Jet Use To Hospital Surgeons Helping In Haiti Disaster

Synthes joined other corporations in making huge donations to the earthquake-relief effort in Haiti, the Pennsylvania-based company lending its corporate jet. The firm lent use of the jet on an unlimited basis to Manhattan’s Hospital for Special Surgery to fly medical personnel, including surgical teams and supplies, to Port-au-Prince. The HSS credited use of the jet with the hospital’s ability to get surgical teams to Haiti ahead of other medical groups that had to wait for commercial flights. (Click here for more)

“NY Medical Team Arrives In Haiti On A Borrowed Wing” – Crains New York (1/18/10)

Hot Off the Presses: Medical Device Market 2009: Interventional Cardiology - This 86-page Special Report from IN VIVO identifies the most important trends in cardiology devices in recent years, teases out the critical decisions that drove those developments, and takes you behind the scenes and into the minds of the architects of these new technologies and business strategies. Find out more...

Medtronic Ordered To Pay Synthes $21 Million For Patent Infringement

Medtronic has been ordered to pay Swiss-based device maker Synthes $21 million for infringing on a patent for its ProDisc-L artificial replacement device. Medtronic, which has been marketing its competing Maverick, said it would appeal the verdict handed down in a federal court in Memphis. A jury ruled in favor of Synthes last year. Analysts believe the ProDisc device is a key element in Synthes’ future growth. (Click here for more)

“Synthes Awarded $21 Million In Patent Dispute” – Philadelphia Inquirer (9/8/09)

Medical Device Manufacturers’ Employee Training Programs Are Under FDA Scrutiny -- Click Here To Find Out Why...

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Synthes Officials Plead Guilty To Charges They Bypassed FDA Approval

A pair of Synthes executives entered guilty pleas over charges the two were responsible for fatal illegal trials of a bone-mending cement. Michael Huggins and John Walsh could face up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine each. They were named in a 52-count indictment that said they avoided seeking FDA approval for the trials even though they knew the Synthes products Norian XR and Norian SRS had significant risks. Three patients died after being treated. (Click here for more)

“Two Executives Plead Guilty In Illegal Use Of Bone Cement” – New York Times (Bloomberg) (7/21/09)

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Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Takes Center Stage

SAS9: MIS Hits Primetime
Article preview reprinted from Medtech Insight - June 2009

The Ninth Annual Symposium for the International Society for the Advance of Spine Surgery (SAS9), held this spring in London, welcomed almost 1,700 attendees, double that of 2008, and most sessions provided a spirit of optimism despite the harsh economic environment. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) took center stage as applications widen and techniques improve, while facet joint replacement devices and materials to simplify revisions also drew crowds. Find out more...

SAS9: MIS Hits Primetime
Article preview reprinted from Medtech Insight - June 2009

The Ninth Annual Symposium for the International Society for the Advance of Spine Surgery (SAS9), held this spring in London, welcomed almost 1,700 attendees, double that of 2008, and most sessions provided a spirit of optimism despite the harsh economic environment. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) took center stage as applications widen and techniques improve, while facet joint replacement devices and materials to simplify revisions also drew crowds. Find out more...

Synthes, Executives Charged With Promoting Unapproved Bone Filler Use

The U.S. government has filed charges against Synthes, saying four executives promoted the Norian X bone filler for indications that had not been approved by the FDA. The charges filed by the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia also say the executives encouraged use of the Synthes bone filler in human clinical trials that had not been authorized. Synthes issued a statement saying all its actions in marketing Norian X were legal. Synthes and Norian Corp. were accused in the indictments of conducting unauthorized trials of the product fur use in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. (Click here for more)

“Synthes, Medical Device Maker, Accused Of Improper Marketing” – New York Times (6/17/09)

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Synthes Settles With New Jersey On Financial Ties To Research Doctors

Synthes, the U.S. subsidiary of the Swiss device maker Synthes, has settled with New Jersey over accusations it failed to disclose conflicts of interest involving its relationships with physicians conducting product research. The attorney general said other device makers, including five unidentified ones served with subpoenas, continue to be investigated.Synthes agreed to reimburse the state for $236,000, the cost of its consumer-fraud investigation. The settlement with Synthes requires the firm to disclose to the public any future financial arrangements with research doctors. Synthes also is to cease giving doctors stock options to conduct clinical trials of its products.(Click here for more)

“New Jersey Investigates Medical Device Makers” – New York Times (5/7/09)

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Synthes Seeks New Companies For Products, Not Market Share

Synthes says it is considering acquisitions of other companies, using the cash it has amassed to obtain more devices for its portfolio. CEO Michel Orsinger said Synthes is not interested in adding market share, just new technology. Orsinger said Synthes would continue to emphasize its spine, trauma and CMF implant products.(Click here for more – a subscription may be required)

“Synthes: Ready To Use Cash To Add New Technology” – Wall Street Journal (4/28/09)

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Synthes Seeks New Companies For Products, Not Market Share

Synthes says it is considering acquisitions of other companies, using the cash it has amassed to obtain more devices for its portfolio. CEO Michel Orsinger said Synthes is not interested in adding market share, just new technology. Orsinger said Synthes would continue to emphasize its spine, trauma and CMF implant products. (Click here for more – a subscription may be required)

“Synthes: Ready To Use Cash To Add New Technology” – Wall Street Journal (4/28/09)

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