> Clear Catheter Systems has closed its first institutional round of financing. The $4 million round was co-led by Aphelion Capital and California Technology Ventures with Research Corporation Technologies joining in. The company will use the capital to respond to increasing demand for its lead product--the PleuraFlow active tube clearance system--and to drive commercialization efforts in the U.S. and abroad. Clear Catheter release
> Uptake Medical has raised $35 million of a $41 million venture capital round, according to an SEC filing. The company is developing new medical device technologies to treat emphysema. Report
> iCAD ($ICAD), which provides advanced image analysis, work flow solutions and radiation therapy for the early identification and treatment of cancer, has entered into a 5-year, $15 million debt facility agreement with Deerfield Management Company. iCAD release
> The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has acknowledged substantial clinical improvement associated with the use of Boston Scientific's ($BSX) Alair bronchial thermoplasty system for the management of severe asthma. Boston Scientific release
> Given Imaging ($GIVN) says roughly 700 patients have been enrolled in the PillCam COLON 2 pivotal trial, and more than 500 patients have ingested PillCam COLON 2 in the trial. Given Imaging release
> The EndoBarrier gastrointestinal liner, which is used to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity, has been transitioned to commercial use in the Netherlands, according to GI Dynamics ($GID). GI Dynamics release
> Novadaq Technologies has signed an agreement naming MAQUET Cardiovascular as the exclusive distributor of Novadaq's CO2 heart laser systems and procedure kits in the U.S. Novadaq/MAQUET release
And Finally... A Synthes ($SYST) unit is accusing rival Stryker ($SYK) of raiding its San Francisco-based sales force and using confidential information from those ex-employees to its advantage. Report