> DePuy Orthopaedics has named Andrew Ekdahl its new president. Ekdahl's career with DePuy and Johnson & Johnson spans more than 20 years working in areas including orthopaedics, trauma, sports medicine, neuroscience and spine. DePuy release
> NovaBone Products has opened a new dedicated R&D facility in Gainesville, Florida. The new 3,500 square foot facility provides the platform for NovaBone to implement its product development strategy and was completed in conjunction with the recent appointment of Gregory Pomrink as VP, R&D. NovaBone release
> The Omar Ishrak era at Medtronic started with a Tweet. "Thrilled to be leading an amazing company with such a powerful mission. Engaging with our customers and global team. A great start!" Ishrak wrote from his new personal MDT Twitter account @MedtronicCEO. Story
> HTX provided $750,000 in financing to Profound Medical through the Technology Assessment Program. HTX's funding was part of a $9.4 million Series A financing led by a syndicate of venture investors, which includes the Business Development Bank of Canada and Genesys Capital Partners. The company is developing a minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer based on MRI-guided high frequency ultrasound therapy that is designed to diminish the collateral damage and side effects associated with current surgical procedures. HTX release
> St. Jude Medical has announced the launch of the VantageView System in the U.S. and Europe. The system is a state-of-the-art, high-definition monitor that eliminates the need for multiple monitors and enhances workflow by improving the visualization of critical case information in the electrophysiology lab. St. Jude release
> QAL Medical has purchased the Otto Bock brand of continuous passive motion medical devices and is moving the manufacturing and services division from Canada to Marinette. The move is expected to create 15 new jobs at QAL. Story
And Finally... Expensive devices that help weakened hearts beat properly provide little benefit to almost 40 percent of patients who are candidates for them under current guidelines, according to a new study. Known as cardiac resynchronization therapy, or CRT, the devices typically cost $25,000 or more and are implanted in about 60,000 heart-failure patients in the U.S. each year, the Wall Street Journal reports. Item