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Pandemic Impact on Elective Surgeries Highlights Resilience of Surgical Robot Demand
The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted elective surgeries in 2020, but demand in the surgical robot industry did not diminish as a result. In the orthopedic field, Stryker and Zimmer each installed over a hundred Mako and Rosa systems respectively in the fourth quarter; in the soft tissue field, Intuitive Surgical installed 936 units throughout the year, a decrease compared to the previous year, yet surgical volume still grew by 1%. As surgeries resume, industry competition is accelerating around hip and knee replacement and soft tissue procedures.
From Lab to Home: The Evolution of COVID-19 Testing in 2021
As the pandemic enters its second year, the COVID-19 testing landscape in the United States is undergoing profound adjustments: testing volumes have notably fallen from their January peak, while manufacturers such as Abbott and Quidel continue to expand production capacity; the FDA has accelerated approvals for at-home and OTC testing products, but concerns over cost and public health visibility have sparked debate; the potential impact of variants on molecular testing is also drawing regulatory attention.
Elective Medical Recovery Takes Center Stage: Medical Device Industry Experiences a Rollercoaster Year
A year ago, hospitals suspended elective medical procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a significant decline in medical device industry revenue. With vaccine rollout and changes in case numbers, the recovery process of elective medical care in 2021 has become a focal point for the industry, but the speed of recovery varies by surgery type, region, and patient confidence.
New U.S. Hospital Price Transparency Rule Takes Effect: Stunning Differences in Costs for the Same Surgery
After the new U.S. hospital price transparency rule took effect, Healthcare Dive analyzed data from multiple healthcare systems and found significant differences in negotiated prices for the same surgery within the same hospital. For example, at Sutter Hospital in San Francisco, hip replacement costs ranged from $22,865 to $101,571. Experts believe this reflects the chaos of U.S. healthcare pricing but also provides an opportunity for employers to control costs.
Four Key Antitrust Issues in the Healthcare Industry: Analysis of Federal and State Regulatory Trends
Over the past year, antitrust enforcement activities in the U.S. healthcare industry have been frequent, with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) planning to strengthen enforcement and state legislatures considering enhanced scrutiny of mergers. This article outlines four major antitrust topics to watch in the future, including the FTC's expansion of enforcement tools, the impact of the Becerra nomination, the ripple effects of the Sutter settlement, and legislative developments at the state level.
Three Major Trend Predictions in Digital Health for 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven accelerated development in the digital health sector, and this trend is expected to continue or even strengthen in 2021. Experts predict that healthcare will become more predictive rather than reactive, telemedicine will continue to expand and integrate more deeply, and with increased data sharing, cybersecurity will become a focal point for the industry.
Diabetes Wearable Device Market Outlook: 2021 Considered an Industry Watershed
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telemedicine and digital health, and the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and insulin pump markets showed resilience in 2020. Looking ahead to 2021, the industry generally regards this as a watershed year for diabetes wearable devices. Major manufacturers such as Dexcom, Insulet, and Medtronic all have new product launch plans and are targeting patient groups that have not yet been fully penetrated.
Mitral Valve Market Expected to Rival TAVR, Abbott and Edwards Compete for Position
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has dominated the structural heart disease market in recent years, but the industry is shifting focus toward mitral valve intervention. Analysts expect the mitral and tricuspid valve market to reach $3 billion by 2025, with mitral valves accounting for the majority. Abbott leads with MitraClip, while Edwards is catching up with its Pascal system, but faces challenges of technical complexity and clinical data.
EU launches first module of Eudamed, MDR-IVDR certification bottlenecks remain
The European Commission launched the first module of the Eudamed system this month to assign single registration numbers to medical device manufacturers and others. However, due to restrictions on on-site audits caused by the pandemic and an insufficient number of notified bodies, many products may not be certified in time before the MDR takes effect. Industry organizations are calling for an expansion of remote auditing and questioning the feasibility of the IVDR transition period.