COVID-19: Latest Updates
COVID-19: Latest Updates
July 30, 2020
Vitls Inc., a company based out of Houston, Texas, has received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its Vitls Platform, a telemonitoring system. This platform provides a streamlined process of vital sign monitoring by allowing healthcare providers to view several health metrics from a single device. This clinical-grade platform provides reliable and accurate monitoring in......
July 20, 2020
Dentist Online, a new teledentistry platform, was recently established in Canada, joining the growing telehealth movement. This platform is comprised of independent dentists and professionals from 96 Canadian dental clinics. These professionals range from orthodontists, to oral and maxiofacial surgeons, periodontists, endodontists, peadodontists, and prosthodontists. This expansive collection of expertise allows for the platform to......
July 17, 2020
The US dental industry has experienced multiple difficulties and resurgences over the course of this year. It is currently experiencing overall growth, despite struggling in some areas. Across the US, patient volumes in dental practices are vastly lower than their norms. Patient volumes were at 28% less in the week of June 25th than they......
July 7, 2020
Beckman Coulter has been granted Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA for its new COVID-19 antibody test. This approval comes after being tested by the top four in vitro diagnostic manufacturers in the U.S. to validate its efficacy. This test is likely more effective than other tests, as most others test for the immunoglobulin (IgM)......
June 5, 2020
Abiomed has been granted FDA emergency use authorization for its Impella RP – a temporary heart pump to support circulatory system functioning in patients with right side ventricular failure. The FDA has granted EUA for this device to treat COVID-19 patients, as some of them have suffered from right heart failure due to the virus,......
June 2, 2020
Bardy Diagnostics‘ 14-day Carnation Ambulatory Monitor (CAM) patches have previously been used in U.S. hospital settings, but they have now been granted a CE mark for these products. The patches allow for a longer period of monitoring than previous products, that were used for 2 or 7-day periods. Longer monitoring periods provide healthcare providers with......
May 27, 2020
The FDA has recently granted clearance for the portable AiRTouch X-ray device developed by Aspenstate to be used for humans. This small, handheld device joins the array of telehealth products being developed recently. This device is paired with a touchscreen for an intuitive interface, and it can upload images directly to clinical storage systems, without......
May 26, 2020
The FDA has recently granted 510(k) clearance to Philips for a range of its devices to be used to manage COVID-19 patients in the U.S. The approved products include the Affiniti series, EPIQ series, Lumify, CX50, and Sparq system. These ultrasound devices are used to monitor and manage patients suffering from COVID-19 complications. This range......
May 15, 2020
The gradual re-introduction of elective surgeries throughout North America has major implications on the future of the dental industry. Currently, practices are beginning to re-open, in accordance with the general easing of restrictions in public institutions and places. During the temporary closure of dental practices to all but emergency treatments, a significant portion of potential......
May 13, 2020
In Europe, respiratory device manufacturer ResMed has accelerated their process of launching remote tracking of ventilators, to combat the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. This cloud-based technology provides healthcare professionals with clinical data while patients are at home. This tackles several issues related to the ongoing pandemic. Firstly, it may provide increased room in hospitals, as patients......
May 7, 2020
BioIntelliSense has created a multi-symptom tracking device called the BioButton to conveniently measure health metrics, as part of the ongoing efforts to track and control the spread of COVID-19. This non-invasive device allows data to be passively collected from individuals over a period of up to 30 days at a time. As restrictions begin to......
May 7, 2020
The spread of COVID-19 infections has vastly increased mechanical ventilator usage, and with this usage comes complications for patients. According to Liberate Medical, patients who spend more than four days in ventilation are susceptible to higher hospital mortality rates, and increased complications. Liberate Medical is now among the latest companies to develop a device to......
May 5, 2020
Vancouver-based company Lungpacer Medical has developed a single-use multi-electrode stimulating catheter that is inserted into the left subclavicle vein. It is used to stimulate the left and right phrenic nerves, providing support to the functioning of the diaphragm in patients who have respiratory issues. The device is paired with an external, reusable control unit to......
May 4, 2020
A new device has been developed to measure physical symptoms in COVID-19 patients. This non-invasive device allows medical personnel to monitor a variety of symptoms with a singular device. This throat sensor, developed by the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab and Northwestern University in Illinois, is applied on top of the skin and worn for all......
April 22, 2020
Stryker has been granted emergency use authorization (EUA) by the FDA to use its Sterizone VP4 to decontaminate used N95 respirators during the coronavirus outbreak. Under normal circumstances, N95 respirators are designed to be single-use. A recent study performed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirmed that N95 respirators can be decontaminated effectively up......
April 21, 2020
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is reissuing new guidelines for states and regions seeing declining and stabilizing COVID-19 infection rates and recommending healthcare facilities in these areas to resume providing elective procedures to patients without COVID-19 symptoms. On March 18, 2020, the CMS announced they would postponing non-essential medical and surgical procedures......
April 9, 2020
OncoSec and Inovio Pharmaceuticals have announced they are testing potential COVID-19 vaccines and pursuing first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trials. As of April 9, the FDA has not approved any preventative or therapeutic coronavirus vaccines for use against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19). While OncoSec has submitted an investigational new drug (IND) application for its vaccine, CORVax12,......
April 8, 2020
As ventilator shortages due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to worsen throughout the Unites States, Telsa has redirected its focus to address the shortages, purchasing BiPAP breathing machines which can be re-purposed as non-invasive ventilators and shipping 1,000 ventilators from China to hospitals in California. Partnering with Medtronic, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been reportedly......
April 1, 2020
Bardy Diagnostics‘ Carnation Ambulatory Monitor (CAM™) Patch is being used by Seattle health care workers to monitor heart beat and measure QT segments in coronavirus patients prescribed HCQ experimentally. HCQ was recently authorized to treat coronavirus patients by the FDA under the Emergency Use Authorization. HCQ is commonly used to treat malaria, lupus and rheumatoid......
March 31, 2020
The rising number of COVID-19 infections worldwide has resulted in many dental offices temporarily closing to reduce possible spread of the virus and redirect dwindling personal protective supplies to front-line health care workers. Top dental companies are taking this time to offer webinars and additional continuous education (CE) opportunities to those at home due to......
March 30, 2020
In an update Thursday, the FDA clarified its stance on 3D-printing medical devices, and accessories amid the COVID-19 pandemic. As American COVID-19 infection rates skyrocket and surpass the number of infections in China, the United States has begun to face medical supply shortages. Shortages include key products like ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE). The......
March 27, 2020
DIY Face Shields to Help Doctors Fighting COVID-19 As hospitals world wide face shortages of protective face masks, ventilators and other essential medical equipment, engineers, large companies and hobbyists have been working on alternative solutions to help protect doctors and patients. Lennon Rodgers, director of the Engineering Design Innovation Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison......
March 25, 2020
CMS Postponing Non-Essential Medical, Surgical, and Dental Procedures The European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the American Heart Association (AHA), the Heart Failure Society of American (HFSA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) have issued official statements clarifying that ACE-i and ARBs have not been found to increase COVID-19 mortality rates. Physicians are recommending coronavirus patients......
March 24, 2020
CMS Postponing Non-Essential Medical, Surgical, and Dental ProceduresAt the White House Task Force Press Briefing last week, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that all non-essential medical, surgical and dental procedures would be postponed until further notice in order to shift priorities to treating those affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The decision......
March 19, 2020
Coronavirus and Ibuprofen: Is it safe to take? Medical professionals no longer recommend using ibuprofen to manage coronavirus symptoms. The health minister of France, Olivier Véran has warned citizens to avoid taking ibuprofen to treat symptoms of the coronavirus after a report was published linking “grave adverse effects” to the use of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).......
March 17, 2020
Dental cancellations due to mask shortage from COVID-19 hoarding As of this morning, the most recent reports show the coronavirus, COVID-19, has spread to 162 countries and infected almost 190,000 people. The total number of fatalities linked to the virus is reported to be over 7,800*. As fears surrounding the coronavirus continue to grow, the......
March 5, 2020
The most recent reports show the coronavirus, COVID-19, has spread to 83 countries and infected 96,000 people. The total number of fatalities linked to the virus is reported to be over 3,300*. Since the outbreak, demand for medical devices, respiratory protection products in particular such as face masks and ventilators, continues to rise. Here is......
