Imaging

MedPAC pans CMS idea to lean on commercial payers for Medicare coverage decisions

The advisory group warned against threats to transparency and rigor in response to a proposed rule defining the term "reasonable and necessary" and adding a faster coverage pathway for FDA-designated breakthrough devices.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 03, 2020

Siemens Healthineers projects up to 8% revenue growth in FY2021

The German imaging and diagnostics giant said it won U.S. antitrust approval for its planned $16.4 billion buyout of radiation oncology specialist Varian in late October, helping the deal close in the first half of 2021.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 02, 2020

Medtronic acquires thyroid surgery tech in 7th tuck-in deal of 2020

An addition to the medtech's pandemic-battered ENT business, Ai Biomed's PTeye system won De Novo ization from FDA in 2018 for its ability to help surgeons spare important calcium-regulating tissue during procedures.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 29, 2020

CMS to push back radiation oncology model after industry blowback

Agency administrator Seema Verma said a six-month delay will be formalized via upcoming rulemaking because "more time is needed to prepare."

By Susan Kelly • UPDATED: Oct. 22, 2020 at 11:07 a.m.

Surgical robots, early cancer tests top CB Insights digital health startup list

The most promising, as aggregated in annual rankings from the firm, have raised over $20 billion in total funding for more than 600 deals with 900-plus investors.

By Hailey Mensik , Maria Rachal • Aug. 14, 2020

COVID-19 diagnostics emerging as prime investment target, SVB analysis shows

Companies with tech involved in the pandemic response raised $1.3 billion over the first half of the year, with developers of tests and R&D tools enjoying a 62% increase in investment.

By Nick Paul Taylor • July 24, 2020

Philips sees double-digit COVID-19 connected care bump amid Q2 sales dip

Headwinds won out this spring, dragging total sales down 6%. Still, management predicted the return of elective procedures will help tip the balance to growth for the rest of the year.

By Nick Paul Taylor • July 20, 2020

Move to digital mammography failed to improve outcomes, study finds

A new meta-analysis shows the use of digital versus film mammograms had no effect on likelihood of a tumor being detected between screening scans, despite early hopes that digitization of the imaging tech would deliver benefits.

By Nick Paul Taylor • June 25, 2020

Philips, startups look to deploy new ultrasound tech amid coronavirus

The need for point-of-care imaging for lung and cardiac complications among COVID-19 patients has led to a flurry of expedited FDA reviews.

By Nick Paul Taylor • May 14, 2020

AdvaMed pushes US to lift tariffs on Chinese imports of COVID-19 devices

The trade group wants indefinite exemptions for imaging components and devices used in ventilators, among other items. It also floated a compromise: re-imposing them one year after the pandemic passes.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 30, 2020

FDA encourages remote review of digital pathology slides amid COVID-19

The agency's latest effort to support greater access to medical devices during the pandemic follows a move by CMS that opened the door for pathologists to work away from the lab.

By Susan Kelly • April 27, 2020

FDA moves to boost access to imaging systems during pandemic

The agency is allowing devices to be modified for portable use to enable imaging outside of hospitals in an effort to potentially slow the spread of COVID-19. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 24, 2020

Philips to invest $109M as COVID-19 drives connected care order growth

CEO Frans van Houten said sourcing component parts from affected suppliers has been a challenge amid increasing demand for ventilators, patient monitors and certain diagnostic devices.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 20, 2020

FDA clears Sectra's digital pathology module for primary diagnostics as US market heats up

The clearance will intensify competition in the space initially monopolized by Philips, with big medtechs like Roche aiming to enter. The ability to review images from anywhere may be critical amid the coronavirus pandemic.

By Nick Paul Taylor • April 02, 2020

Insightec nets up to $150M for incisionless brain surgery tech

Backed by Koch Industries, the privately held medtech makes non-invasive technology that uses ultrasound to help treat ailments such as essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease.

By Greg Slabodkin • March 09, 2020

FDA OKs 1st AI tool to help non-specialists take cardiac ultrasounds

The De Novo ization comes weeks before the agency will host a meeting on artificial intelligence in radiological imaging.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 10, 2020

Epic takes top award in KLAS survey for 10th year

In imaging, Philips led in the cardiology category, followed by Siemens, Fujifilm and IBM Watson Health.

By Ron Shinkman • Feb. 04, 2020

Major conglomerates 3M, GE, Philips bet on healthcare

The corporate giants' earnings reports this week indicate medical segments are increasingly important to strategy as other businesses decline.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 30, 2020

Virtual, augmented reality in medicine pique FDA's interest

The agency is hosting a workshop Wednesday with representatives from Microsoft, Facebook, Philips and other industry players in hopes of identifying roadblocks to developing more uses of extended reality for medical purposes.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Jan. 17, 2020

Fujifilm announces delay to $1.63B buyout of Hitachi's diagnostic imaging arm

Citing COVID-19's impacts as a source of slowdown, Fujifilm said the deal is no longer expected to close in July.

By Maria Rachal • UPDATED: May 28, 2020 at 9:03 a.m.

Medtronic and Elekta form radiation therapy pacts with ViewRay

ViewRay's plans to raise $75 million should help reduce concerns surrounding the company's liquidity, analysts at Jefferies said.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Dec. 03, 2019

MRI screening linked to improved detection of breast cancer

The New England Journal of Medicine study found fewer cases of cancer are missed when MRIs are performed. At the same time, the scans come with a high rate of false positives, calling the utility of additional imaging into question.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Dec. 02, 2019

GE Healthcare bulks up in 3D printing, robotics, patient monitoring

Projecting up to $20 billion in revenues this year, GE Healthcare is aiming to capitalize on the shift toward more precision in patient care with investments in Formlabs, CMR Surgical and Decisio Health.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 02, 2019

Hologic wins FDA approval for AI-based breast imaging tech

The imaging company claims the platform saves radiologists one hour per eight hours of interpretation.

By Nick Paul Taylor • Nov. 14, 2019

Canon gets FDA nod for AI tech to enhance CT images

Rising use of CT scans, which expose patients to far more radiation than X-rays, has intensified focus on the risks of the imaging technique, particularly in the pediatric population. 

By Nick Paul Taylor • Oct. 22, 2019