This week, a medical group sued the FDA to block a lab-developed test rule; the FDA published guidance on device classifications; Defibtec issued a recall of its chest compression device and ICU Medical updated instructions for its infusion pump batteries; Maui Imaging raised a $4m DOD grant to put imaging tech into military-based trauma units.

With many medtechs restructuring for core growth in the post-pandemic era, Abbott relied on organic growth in 2022 to move to the top of the global medtech ranking. The strength of the US dollar was not kind to companies reporting in local currencies on converting revenues to dollars.

This week, Medtronic said it would pay $738m for insulin patch firm EOFlow; Neuralink got an FDA OK for first-in-human trials; and UK agency NICE backed genetic tests for stroke patients and digital therapeutics for mental health conditions.

Abbott Laboratories and Johnson & Johnson joined Medtronic in putting a clear distance between themselves and other global medtechs in the Top 10 by revenues for 2021. Post-COVID-19 procedure growth, and, for Abbott, a strong rebound in non-COVID diagnostic demand, were key drivers.