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SmartTRAK Life Sciences News and Analysis Blog

Thomas Wallick

30+ years’ experience in Consumer and Life Sciences Industry marketing including Orthopedics and Cardiology.

Recent Posts

14 min read

R&D Focus: Trials, Patents, Products & Predictions: The Week in Orthopedics

By Thomas Wallick on 2/11/21 9:30 AM

Facing the prevailing headwinds of the pandemic, the MedTech industry presses on with product innovation and plans for the future. SmartTRAK reports daily on the challenges still ahead, covering all aspects of the Orthopedic market: Extremities, OrthoBio, Spine, Computer Assisted Surgery, Total Joints, Trauma, Soft Tissue Fixation and EU Extremities and Trauma.

The following is just a small sampling of the Orthopedic updates from around the world compiled, reviewed and posted in real time last week by our SmartTRAK analysts. We constantly monitor the worldwide MedTech industry, sifting through the noise to present to our subscribers the most relevant international news, trends, new products, patents, financial data and competitor developments in the global Life Sciences industry.

Arthroscopic Treatment of Chronic Instability of the Lateral Ankle Joint

This study evaluated the clinical effect of total arthroscopic repair of the anterior talofibular ligament in the treatment of chronic instability of the lateral ankle. clinicaltrials.gov

Treatment of varus posteromedial rotatory instability of the elbow w/ an internal joint stabilizer is as effective as a static lateral ex fix allowing for elbow ROM & eliminating many of the complications associated w/ ex fix concluded a cadaveric study. J Shoulder Elbow Surg

Topics: Orthopedics
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3 min read

See What's Coming to SmartTRAK in 2021

By Thomas Wallick on 2/2/21 8:00 AM

Over the past few months, the SmartTRAK team has been hard at work preparing for some significant market coverage expansion for 2021.  Our Analysts have been diligently monitoring the marketplace and speaking with our subscribers to understand where we should focus our market intelligence efforts next. We are thrilled to announce the following market segments will be launching soon! If you're interested in learning more or if you would like a demo of these new areas, please reach out. We'd love to show you the platform and how real-time intelligence can lead to real-time results.

Arthroscopic Technologies

Launching February 2021

SmartTRAK is expanding its Sports Medicine coverage, covering arthroscopic enabling technologies and devices including:
  • Visualization
  • Mechanical resection
  • Radio frequency ablation
  • Fluid management

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11 min read

Smith & Nephew: What’s New in Ortho and Sports Medicine

By Thomas Wallick on 11/9/20 1:29 PM

SmartTRAK highlights what’s new in orthopedics and sports medicine, with a spotlight on Smith & Nephew (SNN). We constantly monitor the worldwide MedTech industry, sifting through the noise to present to our subscribers the most relevant international news, trends, new products, patents, research, financial data and competitor developments in the global life sciences industry.

The following is a sampling of recent market updates covering Smith & Nephew that were compiled, reviewed and posted in real time by our SmartTRAK analysts covering the markets for Computer Assisted Surgery, Extremities, OrthoBio, Soft Tissue Fixation, Total Joints and Trauma.
Topics: Orthopedics
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8 min read

PNS 2020: What’s New in Peripheral Nerve Stimulation?

By Thomas Wallick on 11/2/20 9:30 AM

In the market for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS), companies are developing new wireless or minimally invasive technologies with novel waveforms and form factors designed to treat a wide variety of applications and unmet clinical needs, including for the treatment of intractable migraines, chronic intractable postoperative pain, suprascapular neuralgia, low back pain, tibial/ankle pain, stroke rehab, overactive bladder and tibial nerve stimulation, to name a few.

Companies competing in the market for PNS include Stimwave Technologies*, Nalu Medical*, SPR Therapeutics, Bioness and Cala Health among others. To find out more about these companies and what’s new for PNS, SmartTRAK highlights market updates covering the top news, clinical studies, reimbursement and patents in PNS so far in 2020.
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6 min read

COVID-19 Resurgence: The Effect on Deferred Procedures

By Thomas Wallick on 10/26/20 10:30 AM

MedTech Strategist reported that In May of this year, the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions conducted "an online survey of 50 clinical and service line leaders at US provider organizations on their deferred procedures". With the return of elective procedures being integral to a comeback for the MedTech industry, the results of that survey suggest that the path to resuming these procedures is becoming more complicated.

According to the Deloitte survey, "Respondents expect the return to pre-COVID-19 productivity volumes to take two to six months, with three months the typical estimate. When asked to list their top concerns about resuming deferred procedures, providers say a second coronavirus outbreak is their biggest worry (82%)". It appears that their biggest fear, a COVID-19 resurgence, may be coming to pass.

The following is just a small sampling of recent updates regarding the Life Sciences industry's COVID-related delayed procedures and what an impact a resurgence may have. These updates are compiled, reviewed and posted in real-time by our SmartTRAK analysts, who are constantly monitoring the situation and sifting through the noise to present the most relevant news to our subscribers:

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3 min read

Meet Matt Golembeski - Director of Sales

By Thomas Wallick on 10/19/20 9:34 AM

We are pleased to announce that Matt Golembeski has joined the team at SmartTRAK as Director of Sales. Matt has 15+ of sales and sales management experience in the medical device industry with a concentration in spine and spine-supportive technologies.

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3 min read

Meet Tim Patrick - Senior Manager of Corporate Accounts

By Thomas Wallick on 9/18/20 9:30 AM

We are pleased to announce that Tim Patrick has joined the team at SmartTRAK as Senior Manager of Corporate Accounts. Tim has 5+ years experience in Medical Device Sales and Healthcare IT. Tim had prior roles at Zimmer Biomet and Abbott Laboratories.

Meet Tim Patrick:

What is your role with SmartTRAK? I’ve joined the commercial team as a Senior Manager of Corporate Accounts.

What do you like about SmartTRAK? It’s tough to keep this question to a paragraph, but I will do my best! The space, product and people are what really intrigues me about SmartTRAK. The Medtech/Software space is ever changing and as dynamic of a space that I’ve been involved with. The product is absolutely incredible. The type of data we provide at your fingertips is a must have. Lastly, I’ve come from large Fortune 500 companies who have claimed to be a tight knit team but nothing compares to what we currently have at SmartTRAK. From the other reps, analysts, and up to the CEO it truly is the best culture I have ever been a part of.

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8 min read

Trials, Patents, Products & Predictions: The Week in Orthopedics

By Thomas Wallick on 8/24/20 10:33 AM

Facing the prevailing headwinds of the pandemic, the MedTech industry presses on with product innovation and plans for the future. SmartTRAK reports daily on the challenges still ahead, covering all aspects of the Orthopedic market: Extremities, OrthoBio, Spine, Computer Assisted Surgery, Total Joints, Trauma, Soft Tissue Fixation and EU Extremities and Trauma.

The following is just a small sampling of the Orthopedic updates from around the world compiled, reviewed and posted in real time last week by our SmartTRAK analysts. We constantly monitor the worldwide MedTech industry, sifting through the noise to present to our subscribers the most relevant international news, trends, new products, patents, financial data and competitor developments in the global Life Sciences industry.

Early Major Revisions w/ Anterior Approach THA

An Australian joint registry data study w/ > 122K pTHAs found while there was no difference in overall cumulative % revision between surgical approaches, the anterior approach had a higher rate of major revisions w/ lower dislocation and infection rates. J Bone Joint Surg Am

SI Joint Fusion Market

Needham expects a higher physician payment for minimally invasive SI joint fusion procedures to be a steady tailwind for market expansion going into 2021.

Total Ankle Arthroplasty Safer than Total Hip/Knee

A study of pts in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2006 to 2016 found total ankle replacement had a lower complication rate (2.98%) compared to total hip (4.92%) and total knee (4.56%) in the early post-op period. J Am Acad Orthop Surg

Topics: Orthopedics
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8 min read

SmartTRAK Trauma Market Updates: A COVID-19 Recovery on the Horizon?

By Thomas Wallick on 8/18/20 8:00 AM

Although COVID-19 has disrupted the medical device market, with many elective procedures being postponed, SmartTRAK anticipates the Trauma market to recover in 2021 and beyond. We anticipate that US Trauma fracture fixation procedures will be only slighted impacted by COVID-19, resulting in nearly flat YoY growth from 2019 to 2020 and believe that 2021 procedures will return to normal. This will result in 2021 procedural growth rates being inflated at ~10% and 2022 experiencing normal growth trends as volumes begin to stabilize. 

The following is just a small sampling of the Trauma market updates from around the world compiled, reviewed and posted in real time last week by our SmartTRAK analysts. We constantly monitor the worldwide MedTech industry, sifting through the noise to present to our subscribers the most relevant international news, trends, new products, financial data and competitor developments in the global Life Sciences industry.

Intramedullary Device w/ a Guided Growth System

A US Patent “Intramedullary device” was granted to Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network of New South Wales, AU, describing a device system & method for providing stabilization of a bone & configured to allow extension of the device w/ the growth of the bone. 10,736,674

Ilizarov Method for Nonunion of the Tibia

Union was achieved at mean length of 8.3 mos in all 102 pts w/ tibial nonunion treated w/ an Ilizarov ex fix w/ 95.1% maintaining union at least 2 yrs post treatment leading a study to conclude the Ilizarov method is an excellent long-term option. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg

Inverted or Non-Inverted Triangle Configuration for Femoral Neck Fxs

A non-inverted triangular configuration of 6.5mm screws used in the fixation of femoral neck fxs carries a higher risk of bony violation than an inverted triangle configuration concluded a study of 72 cases. J Clin Orthop Trauma

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10 min read

MedTech Innovation in the Time of COVID

By Thomas Wallick on 8/11/20 8:00 AM

Despite the unprecedented challenges of the ongoing pandemic, and the collateral economic hit taken due to the massive decline in elective procedures in Q220, MedTech companies continue to innovate and introduce new products to the global life sciences industry.

The following is just a small sampling of the new products updates from around the world compiled, reviewed and posted in real time last week by our SmartTRAK analysts. We constantly monitor the worldwide MedTech industry, sifting through the noise to present to our subscribers the most relevant international news, trends, new products, financial data and competitor developments in the global Life Sciences industry.

In Q220, Alphatec commenced upgrades of its cervical portfolio with 510(k) clearance of the Insignia Anterior Cervical Plate System and InVictus CT Spinal Fixation System, which expands InVictus across cervical, thoracic and lumbar procedures.

GMED has launched 6 new products in 2020 w/ strong uptake of HEDRON 3D printed IBD spacers as well as SABLE expandable MIS TLIF device. Globus is doubling its 3D manufacturing capacity which should come online in Q4. GMED Q220 Earnings Transcript on Seeking Alpha

Alpha launches for COHERE TLIF O and TLIF A are slated for 2020, expanding the Company’s proprietary porous PEEK platform. NUVA Q220 Earnings Transcript on Seeking Alpha

Topics: COVID-19
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