Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the medical device industry in myriad ways including enhanced diagnostics and imaging tools, more precise and consistent robotics and personalized medicine for improved patient care, and more. Where AI can also make a significant impact is in big data and predictive analytics by reducing staff administration, increasing efficiency and avoiding drowning in volumes of disparate data. But relying on AI alone for data and analytics has its pitfalls, especially when hallucinations occur resulting in flawed results and inaccurate predictions. That’s why having human experts behind the AI is critically important.

In this episode of DeviceTalks AI Podcast, Joe Mish, VP of Sales for SmartTRAK,  summarizes how SmartTRAK leverages AI tools alongside expert analysts to offer device customers one trusted source for market intelligence.  Joe discusses how Medtech customers rely on the unique, combined power of SmartTRAK’s Insights-as-a-Service platform and market and data experts to more quickly make strategic decisions around new product innovations and market expansions. With over a decade's worth of data and collective intelligence in the system, the predictive capabilities of AI and the power of non-hallucinating human insights, SmartTRAK might just be the “holy grail” solution. Just click the video below to listen in to learn more! 

A link to download the complete interview transcript is provided below.

0:00:00 Kayleen Brown: Hi everyone, I’m Kayleen Brown of DeviceTalks. Some exciting news to start. Our first four episodes of AI Meets Life Sci has more than 8500 plays. We’re so grateful that you’re interested in how AI is affecting our industry as much as I am. And as you probably noticed, we took a short break and we did that to speak to our audience in order to better understand how we can evolve that series, we learned two things. One, there’s an appetite for more artificial intelligence focused conversations. And two, we learned that though there’s an appetite for these conversations, there’s a hunger for these conversations to be specific to the medical device industry.

0:00:39 Kayleen Brown: So because of that, we’ve rebranded our series AI Meets Life Sci to DeviceTalks AI. DeviceTalks AI will feature exclusive conversations with the largest medtech OEMs and other industry stakeholders to better understand how they’re using artificial intelligence to reshape the industry. But you can still find us on every major podcast platform. Just search for DeviceTalks and make sure that you’re subscribed to DeviceTalks on YouTube.

0:01:06 Kayleen Brown: Today’s episode is extra special as we premiere under our new name. First, you’ll hear an interview with Joe Mish, vice president of sales at SmartTRAK. Joe reveals how SmartTRAK’s cutting-edge approach to market intelligence combines real-time analysis with the human touch of a world-class team. We will better understand how AI has helped speed up the market analysis process and how these technologies enhance strategic decision-making in market intelligence.

0:01:36 Kayleen Brown: After that is our keynote interview with Dr. Ha Hong, chief artificial intelligence officer at Medtronic Endoscopy. I’ll be joined by my AI Meets Life Sci co-host Brian Buntz, and we’ll discuss how Dr. Hong is integrating AI into Medtronic’s endoscopy unit, the potential impact of AI on healthcare outcomes, the importance of patient-centric AI design, and the promising future of AI in the medical device industry.

0:02:05 Kayleen Brown: As always, I’m so thankful for your continued support and I’m so excited about this new iteration of AI Meets Life Sci. Now, DeviceTalks AI. Again, we’re going to be specifically talking to medtech companies about how they’re integrating artificial intelligence for better health and business outcomes. So, let’s kick off our inaugural episode of DeviceTalks AI with my conversation with Joe Mish, vice president of sales at SmartTRAK.

0:02:36 Kayleen Brown: Joe Mish, vice president of sales for SmartTRAK Business Intelligence welcome to DeviceTalks AI. I’ve been so looking forward to sitting down with you and learning more about how artificial intelligence is integrating into the data world and helping our industry understand how the industry at large can look in the future. So with that, thank you again for joining us. I want to start at a 40,000 foot level, Joe.

0:03:05 Kayleen Brown: So can you tell our audience about SmartTRAK? What do you do and who do you serve?

0:03:11 Joe Mish: Absolutely. So SmartTRAK is a real time software as a service business intelligence platform. We provide rich market-level data, competitive intelligence and strategic insights to the medical device community. Essentially, we partner with medical device companies, OEM manufacturers, even financial service groups like VC and PE groups, as well as consulting organizations that really invest heavily in the medtech sector.

0:03:41 Kayleen Brown: I think your summary was a great high-level summary, but can you walk us through how real-time analysis is being conducted and ...

Click the button below to download the complete transcript of the interview featuring Joe Mish, SmartTRAK Director of Sales.

We are pleased to announce that John Hatchell has joined the team at SmartTRAK as Director of Sales for the Commercial team. John has 13 years of Medical Device sales and leadership experience within Orthopedics, helping to support trauma, joint replacement and robotics for Stryker and Biomet. Most recently, he has been the founder and CEO of TYDEi Health, a provider-focused business intelligence and optimization platform.

ASPN Chairman Tim Deer, MD, discusses the research and innovation at ASPN 2024 and the society’s collaborative approach to improving care for patients with chronic intractable pain in an interview with SmartTRAK.

Timothy R. Deer, MD, chairman of the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN), discusses the society's goals, its rapid growth, and how ASPN is collaborating with different stakeholders to improve patient care and offer a wider range of new and innovative treatment options for patients with chronic intractable pain. To find out more, including what’s new in neuromodulation, minimally invasive spine and regenerative medicine, listen to the following video recorded live at the ASPN 2024 Annual Conference held July 11-14, 2024 in Miami Beach, FL. A link to download the complete transcript of the interview is also provided below. 

SmartTRAK: Anne Staylor here with SmartTRAK. I'm at the beautiful Fontainebleau Hotel in balmy Miami Beach, Florida at the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience Annual Conference. Today is the last day of the conference and I have the pleasure of talking with Dr. Tim Deer, the chairman of ASPN. Dr. Deer, thank you for talking with me today.

Dr. Tim Deer: Anne, thank you so much for having me. It's a great pleasure to talk to you and thank you for coming to our meeting.

Yes. Well, as you know, I think three years ago was the last time I was at your meeting, and I've had a colleague cover it who lives on the East Coast since then. Now I'm back covering the meeting and wow, has it grown exponentially since you and Dr. Sayed co-founded this meeting. I think this year, there's been a lot of energy and vibrancy around the content and in the exhibit hall and honestly, there's so much news for me to cover.

But before we get into the meeting, I thought it'd be a good idea to have you start by talking about the meeting itself, how it's grown, what the attendance has been this year, et cetera. And then what have been some of the key goals of society? And what have you and your vice chair, Dr. Sayed, been working toward as a society since you established the meeting?

Meet with SmartTRAK in Denver

The American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) will hold its annual meeting in Denver, CO, from July 10-17, 2024. This meeting will bring together sports medicine physicians, clinicians and industry professionals and feature the latest research, cutting-edge updates and discussion on the future of sports medicine. SmartTRAK will be there.

Andy Knapik, SmartTRAK Senior Analyst, Soft Tissue & Arthroscopic Technologies, will be getting the scoop on what’s new at AOSSM and will be available to meet in person at the meeting. If you or your company have important news you’d like to share, or would like to learn more about SmartTRAK, please reach out to Andy at andy.knapik@smarttrak.com.

SmartTRAK has put together highlights of recent news in sports medicine to catch you up on the “news to know” before going to AOSSM 2024. The following is just a small sampling of recent news and SmartTRAK updates from around the world compiled, reviewed and posted in real-time every day by the expert analysts
at SmartTRAK.

New Products:

• Comparison Techniques For Medium To Massive Posterosuperior Cuff Tears
  

  Researchers look to prove that both transosseous-equivalent suture-bridge and independent double-row techniques provide comparable clinical results and retear rates for medium to massive posterosuperior RC tears. BMC Musculoskelet Disord

• Paragon 28*

  FNA mgmt highlighted five full launches YTD in 2024 in the high growth forefoot, minimally invasive and soft tissue markets including Grappler Knotless Anchor, Bridgeline Adaptive Tape, Mister Tendon Harvester, FJ200 Power Console and Burr System and PRECISION MIS Bunion System.

•  Stryker launches Citrefix Suture Anchor System
  

  Stryker announced the launch of Citrefix, a suture anchor system for foot and ankle procedures. The new system uses Citregen, a bioresorbable material designed to mimic the chemistry and structure of native bone. SmarTRAK reported on the Citrefix 510(k) approval in Feb 2021.

Patents:

•  Tissue Repair Devices and Methods

  US Patent “Tap-in bone anchor with expanding ring” was issued describing devices that can wrap around elongate tissue and are capable of supporting the tissue or keeping two severed ends in close proximity to one another. 12023030

• CONMED*

   CONMED's US Patent Application "MENISCAL TRANSPLANT SYSTEM" was published relating to a meniscal transplant workstation and accompanying tools for preparing a meniscal transplant and tibial surface and mounting the transplant to a tibia. 20240207068

• JNJ/DePuy Synthes*

  JNJ DePuy Synthes was issued US Patent “Methods And Devices For Repairing Meniscal Tissue” describing a suture anchor w/ an expanding ring that provides additional locking force for the device in bone. 12016545

Meet with SmartTRAK in Miami!

The American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) will be holding
its 6th Annual Conference in Miami Beach from July 11-14, 2024, which
will feature the latest research, cutting-edge updates and discussion on
topics in pain and neuroscience.

SmartTRAK has put together highlights of recent news in SCS, PNS and
minimally invasive spine to catch you up on the “news to know” before
going to ASPN 2024. The following is just a small sampling of recent
news and SmartTRAK updates from around the world compiled,
reviewed and posted in real-time every day by the expert analysts
at SmartTRAK.

SmartTRAK’s Anne Staylor will be getting the scoop on what’s new at
ASPN, and will be available to meet in person at the meeting. If you or
your company have important news you’d like to share, please reach out
to Anne Staylor, SmartTRAK’s Executive Editor and VP & GM, Neuro
Therapies, at anne.staylor@smarttrak.com,

New Products:

• SPR Therapeutics' SPRINT extensa XT System with Bimodal PNS
  

  BSX was issued a US Patent, “Stimulation Modes To Adapt Customized Stimulation Parameters For Use In A Spinal Cord Stimulation System,” describing a graphical user interface to allow a pt to select a stimulation mode and predict optimal SCS parameters for personalized SCS.12017061

•  SiLO TFX* - Aurora Spine*

   Aurora Spine Corp. announced the successful use of SiLO TFX MIS Sacroiliac Joint Fixation Device in over a dozen patients, providing a minimally invasive surgical option for SI joint pain. Aurora estimates market opportunity > $2.3B/yr in the US and expects full launch by mid-year.

•  Inceptiv SCS: Offering Options in a Closed-Loop Device
  

  David Carr, Medtronic’s (MDT) VP and GM of Pain Interventions, discusses the company’s new Inceptiv SCS, what differentiates it from other SCS devices and what it means for MDT and the SCS market in an interview with SmartTRAK. Inceptiv SCS: Offering Options in a Closed-Loop Device

Patents:

• Nevro*

  NVRO’s US Patent Application, "Selective High-Frequency Spinal Cord Modulation For Inhibiting Pain With Reduced Side Effects, And Associated Systems And Methods," was published from 1.5 KHz to ~50 KHz SCS to treat LBP with reduced side effects.20240181258

• INBRAIN Neuroelectronics

  INBRAIN Neuroelectronics’ US Patent Application “SYSTEM FOR NEUROMODULATION APPLICATIONS” was published describing implantable and non-invasive wearable sensor-driven closed-loop neuromodulation systems that allow patient monitoring for PNS, VNS, DBS and SCS therapy. 20240207618

• SPR Therapeutics

  SPR Therapeutics was granted US Patent “Systems And Methods For Treating Shoulder Pain Related To Subacromial Impingement Syndrome” re one-time, continued or periodic PNS to neurological motor points of the posterior and middle deltoid muscles to mediate shoulder pain. 11944809

The proposed MAC LCDs for Skin Substitutes/CTPs was the hot topic of SAWC and will continue to be until the LCDs are finalized. In this article, SmartTRAK highlights new learnings from discussions at SAWC and the MAC open meetings.

The Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) Spring 2024 meeting welcomed clinicians, researchers and industry to Orlando, FL, to learn, earn continuing education credits, share knowledge and network on the latest developments in advanced wound care. As is typical during SAWC, the Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders also held a meeting of their members. With the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) recently announced proposed changes in the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) governing Skin Substitutes/CTPs (cellular and/or tissue-based products), the Alliance pivoted and invited an expert to speak to the group about how the LCD process works and what laws govern what can be done at the MAC level versus the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) levels. Kudos go out to the team at the Alliance for bringing this meeting together. In addition to the Alliance meeting at SAWC, the MACs held open meetings for these LCDs from May 16 to May 29, and anyone, including manufacturers, could present comments, make a request and provide evidence. SmartTRAK participated in several of these meetings.

In this downloadable article, SmartTRAK gives an overview of LCDs, how they are drafted, the coverage limitations by wound type, issues surrounding evidence for inclusion on the covered list and an implementation timeline. For more information on what the proposed LCDs cover, see also “Medicare Administrative Contractors’ (MACs) LCD Changes: Impact on Skin Substitutes/CTPs.”

The following subjects are covered in detail in this downloadable article:

• The Process for Drafting LCDs
  As background, CMS governs the process for drafting the LCDs in their Medicare Program Integrity Manual (PIM) in Chapter 13, which was most recently updated in 2019 with almost every section re-written. These changes include ... (read more)
  
  
• Coverage Limitations
  The LCD is a literal guide to what is allowed and, conversely, what is automatically denied within the limits written in the LCD. The LCDs for Skin Substitutes/CTPs are for ... (read more)
  
  
• Missing or New Evidence and Reconsiderations
  One area that generated the most questions from manufacturers was how to address coverage decisions if the MAC working groups are missing recently published evidence or have evidence currently in development. The comment submission period was ... (read more)
  
  
• Timeline for LCD Implementation
  During the MAC open meetings, participants had several questions regarding the timeline for LCD implementation, and some requested a delay in implementation. The following timeline applies to all LCDs ... (read more)
  
  

" Perspective article by Jay Merkel, SmartTRAK Sr. Analyst.

INS President Dr. Marc Russo and INS President-Elect Dr. Konstantin Slavin discuss the current “state of the union” in neuromodulation, how the field is evolving and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in an interview with SmartTRAK at INS 2024.

At the 16th International Neuromodulation Society World Congress (INS 2024) held in Vancouver, Canada, Dr. Marc Russo, INS president, and Dr. Konstantin Slavin, INS president-elect, discussed the current “state of the union” in neuromodulation, how the field is evolving, where it’s going and trends in research, technology and clinical practice in an interview with SmartTRAK. They also discussed challenges and opportunities in the field, how the INS is addressing recent criticisms about neuromodulation and the promise and potential of neuromodulation across a wide range of clinical applications. 

To find out more, including the promising indications and areas of growth for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS), click on the following video to listen to the interview recorded live at INS 2024 (51:53 min). Click hereto download a complete transcript of the interview. Topics by timecode are provided below.