Biomedical textile manufacturer Secant Medical (Perkasie, PA) has launched a new Web site as part of an aggressive marketing campaign to expand its business in the medical device industry. The business development effort, which is the largest in the company’s history, includes further targeting device designers and engineers through more trade advertising, improved PR programs, and a new logo. The site also has a glossary of textile terms to assist people when researching the materials. Secant Medical makes biomedical textiles and fabrics that are used therapeutic devices within the fields of cardiovascular, orthopedics, and general surgery.
After experiencing “tailwind from currencies and stabilization of procedure volumes,” Zimmer is expected to report positive revenue and EPS growth rates going forward, according to William Plavonic, an analyst at Canaccord Adams Inc. The company reported Q3 revenues of $975.6 million (2.4% increase over Q3 08), which was above Canaccord’s estimate of $944.5 million. As the market stabilizes, Canaccord analysts project that Zimmer will achieve its revenue growth guidance of 1-3% for 2009.
Despite the anticipated growth, analysts still see pricing pressures as an obstacle. Economic conditions are pushing hospitals to pressure surgeons to choose products that are less expensive. For a company like Zimmer, which manufactures premium-priced implants, this could be a problem. In a recent Canaccord report, analysts suggest that Zimmer has been lowering its pricing in order to hold market share. If this is the case, they speculate that such actions could result in a price war that would inhibit growth and innovation.
A new absorbable wound closure device could make closing dermal wounds easier and faster for surgeons in the operating room. The V-Loc device, manufactured by Covidien, provides a knotless method for doctors. The device is a self-anchoring loop and barb combination that evenly distributes tension across a wound while enabling doctors to simultaneously close multiple layers of a wound.
Exvivo implant studies found that V-Loc is 30-50% faster than conventional suturing. This could mean less time for patients in the OR and fewer complications due to the absence of knots. The device can be used in laparoscopic, open, and plastic reconstructive dermal wound closure procedures.
The announcement of V-Loc was made at the American College of Surgeons 95th Annual Clinical Congress in Chicago.
Researchers at the University of Florida (Gainesville) are looking for a commercialization partner for a nanotechnology that could improve the efficacy of implants. They developed a technique and device that uses nanorod coatings made of silicon dioxide, which is deposited on zinc oxide to increase the body’s ability to accept implants. The researchers found that using a monolayer of nanorods on surfaces significantly reduces cell adhesion and its survival. As a result, the nanorods act as an antifouling material to prevent restenosis of tumor stents. The nanorods also have been found to improve the performance of biomaterial implants, because they decrease fibrotic encapsulation. Among the advantages of the technology are ease of fabrication (they can be fabricated on any material), and the process is inexpensive. For more information about the nanorods, check out the University of Florida’s Office of Technology Licensing page.
