MassDevice.com +3 | The top 3 medtech stories for July 28, 2015

Say hello to MassDevice +3, a bite-sized view of the top three medtech stories of the day. This feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our 3 biggest and most influential stories from the day’s news to make sure you’re up to date on the headlines that continue to shape the medical device industry.

 

3. NYT op-eds: 21st Century Cures strengthens FDA

The New York Times published 2 letters-to-the-editor supporting the 21st Century Cures act after releasing 2 op-eds slamming the act over the past week.

The letters came from Marc Boutin, chief exec of the National Health Council and Stephen Ubl, the chief exec of medical device trade association Advamed. Both responses outlined what the authors believe to be benefits for patients in the bill. Read more

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2. Medtronic can’t shake spine surgeon’s patent suit

Medtronic can’t shake an infringement lawsuit brought by a Nevada spine surgeon over patents covering the scoliosis treatment he created, but won’t be subject to pre-case damages on all of the patents, a federal judge ruled last week.

Dr. Mark Barry sued in February 2014, alleging that Medtronic’s CD Horizon Legacy spinal system infringes the patents, all entitled “System and Method for Aligning Vertebrae in the Ameliorating of Aberrant Spinal Column Deviation Conditions,” according to court documents. They cover a method for aligning vertebrae with a tool that allows a single surgeon to rotate the spinal column as a whole, using pedicle screws, spinal rods and a “pedicle screw cluster derotation tool,” according to the documents. Read more

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1. Bacterin to buy X-Spine, rebrand as Xtant Medical in $86m deal

Bacterin said it agreed to acquire spinal implant maker X-Spine Systems in a cash-and-stock deal worth about $86 million, including the assumption of debt, and rebrand as Xtant Medical Holdings.

Belgrade, Mont.-based Bacterin, which makes allograft products using its in-house tissue bank, said the deal includes $60 million in cash, about 4.24 million Bacterin shares and the assumption of roughly $13 million in debt. At yesterday’s closing price of $3.17 apiece, the BONE shares would be worth about $13.4 million. Read more

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