> Medical-devices firm Biotrin has announced the creation of 40 high-end jobs as it invests in a new R&D project in Dublin. Story
> A federal judge in Texas granted Smith & Nephew's move to bar Arthrex from selling a femoral fixation device a jury found to infringe a Smith & Nephew patent, but stayed the injunction pending an appeal. News
> New research that points to the ability of a chip implanted in a human body to infect and be infected by other systems and devices, may potentially have serious implications for implanted medical devices, which are becoming more pervasive. Article
> Boston Scientific today announced the successful syndication of a new $1 billion, three-year term loan and a new $2 billion, three-year revolving credit facility to replace its existing $1.75 billion revolving credit facility maturing in April 2011. Release
> Ethicon Endo-Surgery has announced an 18-month data analysis demonstrating that REALIZE Adjustable Gastric Band patients who consistently utilized the company's REALIZE mySUCCESS Program lost significantly more weight compared to those who inconsistently used the program. Release
> Boston Scientific has announced that 22 new balloon sizes have been added to the PolarCath peripheral dilatation system, including balloon lengths of 120 and 150 mm. The PolarCath system is used to restore blood flow in patients with critical limb ischemia and blockages in the femoral and popliteal arteries. Both conditions result from peripheral artery disease. Release
> Medtronic has launched KYPHON ActivOs 10 Bone Cement with Hydroxyapatite for use in the treatment of patients with vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) who are undergoing minimally invasive surgery with KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty. Release
> Pathway Medical Technologies has announced that the FDA has granted the company 510(k) clearance to market JETSTREAM G3SF (Small Fixed), the newest version of its peripheral revascularization catheter for the treatment of PVD. Release
> Dako and Omnyx have entered into a three-year agreement to develop clinical algorithms for digital pathology. The aim is to support pathologists in generating even more accurate, objective and reproducible diagnostic results. Release
And Finally... Five years ago, a Japanese robot manufacturer introduced Paro to the world. Built to resemble a baby harp seal, Paro was hailed in Japan as a pioneer among socially interactive robots. Now Paro has come to American shores, appearing in a handful of nursing homes, and workers and academics are trying to figure out whether the $6,000 seal, cleared last fall by U.S. regulators as a Class 2 medical device represents a disturbing turn in our treatment of the elderly or the best caregiving gadget since the Clapper. Report