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Toward Spectacle-Free Cataract Surgery

After a lull, or at least a single-minded focus on femtosecond lasers for a time, refractive surgery has gotten exciting again: the drive to spectacle-free outcomes for cataract patients (who have aged-out of their eligibility for other refractive procedures) is calling for solutions that offer precision and accuracy at every stage of treatment. Start-ups coming up with the solutions will be serving some gigantic markets.

The vibrant community of start-ups, venture capitalists, and physicians at the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit (OIS) that preceded the 2013 American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in New Orleans in November presented a welcome contrast to the all too typical dreary tales coming from medtech start-ups seeking capital. According to data from Elsevier’s Strategic Transactions, which was presented by the meeting’s co-founder, ophthalmologist and venture capitalist Emmett Cunningham, MD, PhD (of Clarus Ventures), VCs still see great potential in ophthalmic companies, particularly those with medical devices, where $200 million had been invested in 2013 as of October, twice the amount that had been invested for all of the previous year. (See Exhibit 1.)

For the past several years, the most recent innovation in ophthalmic surgery – the femtosecond laser – has dominated ophthalmology meetings. Femtosecond lasers offer more precision, less tissue damage, and...

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Final Chance To Have Your Say: Take Our Reader Survey This Week

 
• By Ryan Nelson

Editor’s note: This is your final call to participate in the survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. The deadline is 20 September.

Shape Our Content: Take The Reader Survey

 
• By Ryan Nelson

Editor’s note: We are conducting a survey to better understand our subscribers’ content and delivery needs. If there are any changes you’d like to see in coverage topics, content format or the method in which you receive and access Medtech Insight, or if you love it how it is, now is the time to have your voice heard.

Patients With Movement Disorders Will Benefit From Medtronic’s Expanded MRI Labeling For DBS

 
• By Marion Webb

Medtronic announced it received expanded MRI labeling for its DBS systems, which is critical, given that almost 70% of all DBS-eligible patients will likely need an MRI at some point in their care, says Ashwini Sharan, CMO for Medtronic Neuromodulation.

Podcast: Lung Life AI CEO Shares Regulatory And Reimbursement Journey For Lung Cancer Diagnostic

 
• By Natasha Barrow

In this episode, Medtech Insight reporter Natasha Barrow speaks to LungLife AI CEO Paul Pagano. Lung Life AI is a US-based AIM-listed medical technology company that has developed a liquid biopsy test for the early detection of lung cancer called Lung LB. Pagano runs through the highlights of Lung Life AI journey to date and its future ambition for a strategic partnership. He also provides advice to similar diagnostic companies seeking reimbursement andcompliance with the US FDA Lab Developed Test ruling.

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TRiCares Tricuspid Valve Replacement System Reduces Regurgitation In First-In-Human Study

 
• By Natasha Barrow

TRiCares presented data from the first-in-human study for its tricuspid valve replacement system – Topaz – at EuroPCR 2025 on 22 May.

Swiss Medtechs Advised To Work On US Tariff Mitigation Strategies

 
• By Ashley Yeo

The US’ 90-day suspension of higher “reciprocal tariffs” will expire on 9 July, raising fears that the 31% tariff rate on Swiss medtech and other goods exported to the US might make a comeback. While the tariff situation changes on an almost daily basis, medtechs should forearm for any eventually, say local business organizations.

Guardant Health Launches Germline Hereditary Cancer Test

 
• By Natasha Barrow

Guardant Health introduces a new germline panel test to help guide cancer treatment, assess the risk of secondary cancers in patients and identify family members at risk of cancer.