This week, studies supported Nevro’s spinal cord stimulation therapy and a VRx system that helps reduce pain; the American Medical Association found inconsistent insurance coverage of digital therapeutics; and Geneticure announced a cheek-swab test to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from renal denervation.

Relievant’s Intracept intraosseous nerve ablation system is the only FDA-cleared neuromodulation device indicated to treat vertebrogenic pain. Boston Scientific will pay $850m for Relievant, plus undisclosed milestone payments over the next three years.

This week, Philips announced a legal settlement on recalled CPAPs and BiPAPs; the FDA released emergency preparation recommendations; ReCor prepared to bring Paradise RDN to the US market; and Abbott released the results of a trial comparing optical coherence tomography (OCT) to angiography for guidance during cardiac surgery.

This week, Medtronic presented data from two new real-world trials confirming that ICDs save lives; a restraining order was issued against EOFlow in Insulet’s intellectual property case; and Polarean’s MRI gas XENOVIEW received a new Medicare reimbursement code.  

The majority of FDA’s circulatory systems devices panel agreed that ReCor’s Paradise ultrasound renal denervation system offers a safe and effective therapy for patients with hypertension. The panel’s endorsement means ReCor will likely be the first company to reach the US market with an RDN system.

FDA’s circulatory system advisory panel narrowly voted against Medtronic’s Symplicity Spyral, because one of the pivotal trials of the radiofrequency renal denervation system missed its primary endpoint and the patient population evaluated in the trial does not match the requested indication.