Tag: medical

Switzerland eyes allowing FDA-approved medical devices onto its market

Switzerland eyes allowing FDA-approved medical devices onto its market

Swiss Liberal Councilor Damian Müller (Source: Swiss Federal Assembly)wiss

The Swiss parliament has asked the country’s Federal Council to adapt its laws to allow medical devices that have been vetted by non-European regulators, such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be marketed in Switzerland. Currently, only EU-certified products are allowed on the country’s internal market based on a mutual recognition agreement between Switzerland and the EU.
 
On 28 November, the lower house of the Swiss Federal Assembly, also known as the National Council, approved a motion that mandates the Swiss Federal Council to develop regulations to allow medical devices approved by non-EU regulators into the country. The motion had already been approved by the upper house, also known as the Council of States, on 30 May.
 
The Federal Council now must adapt its national law and present an implementation proposal to allow non-EU regulated medical devices for use in Switzerland, which could open the door to allowing FDA-approved devices onto the market.
 
The motion was first introduced into the Swiss parliament by Liberal Councilor Damian Müller in May 2020. He argued that the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR), Switzerland’s own legal requirements for medical devices and the country’s limited resources have created serious hurdles for medtech manufacturers that could deprive patients of treatments.
 
Peter Biedermann, managing director of the lobby group Swiss Medtech, called the decision “forward-thinking” in a press release.
 
“It is a response to circumstances that could no longer be ignored,” he said. “Specifically, problems with the implementation of the new European medical device regulation and the negative consequences concerning availability, product range, and quality of medical devices throughout Europe.
 
“As innovations are increasingly being introduced first to the market in the USA, new products reach Europe with a delay, at best,” he added.
 
By allowing products into the Swiss market that had already been vetted in the US, proponents argue that manufacturers will have easier access to the Swiss market, while the public can have confidence in the safety and efficacy of the products that have been reviewed by US regulators.
 
“The problems associated with the implementation of the new European Medical Device Regulation (MDR) are becoming increasingly apparent – throughout Europe,” Sandra Rickenbacher-Läuchli, legal counsel at Swiss Medtech told Focus. “The additional administrative workload leads to cost increases for medtech companies and ties up a lot of research and development capacities at the expense of innovations.”
 
The group says more than 1,000 of the approximately 5,000 foreign medtech manufacturers have already stopped supplying products to Switzerland. The lobby group Medtech Europe also says that according to its survey, half of medtech manufacturers in Europe say they plan to reduce their portfolio due to the added burdens from the MDR.
 
“Due to its size, Switzerland is – like other countries – not in a position to supply itself with all the medical devices it needs and is therefore dependent on imports,” said Rickenbacher-Läuchli. “At the moment, only medical devices with an EU certificate are allowed on the Swiss market.”
 
Rickenbacher-Läuchli did not address whether there are potential local legal hurdles the Swiss government may face trying to implement the decision and whether it would apply not just to FDA-approved products but also those that have been cleared or otherwise authorized by the agency. She said that for now, the Swiss government has two years to implement the proposal which will be written by the responsible administrative bodies. The issue will be examined by stakeholders in more detail in the coming months, she added. It also remains to be seen whether the proposal applies to any other foreign regulators besides FDA.
 
Rickenbacher-Läuchli added that Swiss Medtech plans to stay engaged to bring the industry perspective to policymakers as they go through the implementation process.

Medical terms used by doctors often baffling to patients

The words some doctors use are often misunderstood by patients and their families, leaving them feeling confused and vulnerable, according to researchers.

In a study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Network Open, University of Minnesota researchers found that the language doctors often use tends not to translate easily into everyday English.

A positive test result, for example, generally suggests something negative: A disease like Covid, for example, has been detected.

The disconnect in terms has long bothered Dr. Michael Pitt, associate residency program director in the department of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota. He teaches medical students how to communicate effectively with their patients and their families.

“You could be the smartest doctor in the world, yet you’re useless if your patients don’t understand what you are saying,” Pitt said. “It’s always driven me nuts.”

Pitt and his research team tested how well people understood medical jargon by going to one of the largest gatherings in Middle America: the 2021 Minnesota State Fair.

They surveyed 215 fairgoers on their knowledge of potentially confusing health terms. None of the participants had medical training, but all spoke and read English.

While nearly all, 96{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f}, of the respondents understood that a negative result on a cancer screening was actually a good thing, the medical meaning of other common words and phrases was often misinterpreted.

An ‘impressive’ chest X-ray

Take the word “impressive.” To most of us, getting straight-A’s in school, making a half-court shot in basketball or running a marathon are all “impressive” accomplishments.

But when doctors say a patient’s chest X-ray is “impressive,” they really mean, “This worries me.”

That translation was lost on 79{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} of survey respondents.

The word “impressive” is a particular pet peeve for Dr. Giridhar Mallya, a former family physician and current senior policy director for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“It borders on disrespectful because we’re describing something as impressive that is causing real harm for patients,” Mallya said.

What’s more, 21{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} of survey respondents did not understand that the phrase, “Your tumor is progressing,” meant that cancer was getting worse.

“If our patients don’t understand what we think is going on, what our treatment plan is, what we’re asking them to do to get cured, better, healthy,” Pitt said, “we actually could be causing physical harm.”

“They might be less inclined to actually follow up on the actual steps necessary, which could delay care,” he said.

“It is so clearly obvious why people can misunderstand” such language when “our typical terminology is the direct opposite meaning of the medical terminology,” said Dr. Holly Andersen, director of education and outreach at the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Neither Andersen nor Mallya were involved in the new research.

“We as a profession have jargon oblivion,” Pitt said. “We forget that there was a time when we learned these words, and didn’t know them.”

Is it a hidden infection or witchcraft?

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, is frequently called upon in the media for his ability to help translate complicated science in terms that anyone can understand. He said the new research is “very important.”

“It’s a message to medical professionals that they need to speak very clearly with their patients, rather than to them,” Schaffner said.

By far, the most misunderstood medical term in the study was the word “occult,” a word that conjures up an idea of witchcraft in most people.

“People thought it meant demonic or that we thought you were possessed,” Pitt said. In medicine, “occult” simply means that a problem was hidden, or not immediately apparent to health care providers.

‘We’re gonna put you to sleep’

Pitt, a pediatrician, takes the lessons in effective communication to heart when treating children.

“A phrase that could be heard very differently by a kid would be ‘we’re gonna put you to sleep’ before a procedure,” Pitt said. “Think about ways that they may have heard that before. It probably means their dog was killed.”

Patients should feel empowered to ask doctors, nurses and any other health care personnel to explain themselves clearly, even if it feels uncomfortable, Schaffner said.

“Don’t hesitate,” he said. “If somebody is using medical jargon, a phrase that you don’t understand, feel free to say, ‘Excuse me, I don’t understand what you’re trying to say. Could you be a little more clear about that?'”

Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.

From needles To MRI Machines, Medical ‘Device’ Exports Up 8.14{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f}

Good news and bad news. Sort of.

The value of medical-instrument exports, one of the top U.S. exports this year, is growing at less than half the rate of overall U.S. exports.

That’s the bad news.

The category, which includes everything from needles and sutures to MRI and ultrasound machinery, are still increasing at a pace sufficient to lead to a record year, when annual totals are released in early February.

Now, the good news: Through September, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, exports in the category were up 8.14{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} to $26.46 billion. U.S. exports increased 21.04{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} and stand a chance of topping $2 trillion for the first time in 2022.

This post, focused on medical instruments, which ranked 10th when this series on U.S. exports began, is the 12th and final post in a series of columns about the nation’s exports. It currently ranks 12th, trailing gold, which entered the top 10 earlier this year and low-value shipments, which I chose to step over since the data on the category. largely unspecified e-commerce and courier shipments, is insufficiently detailed.

This series follows similar series I did for the countries that were, at the time, the nation’s top 10 trade partners and one for the airports, seaports and border crossings that were, at the time, the nation’s top 10 “ports.”

The first article in this series focused on an overview of the top 10 exports. The second looked at the top 10 countries that are markets for U.S. exports and how they differ from our overall trade partners, which would include imports.

The third was about refined petroleum, the top export; followed by one on oil, which ranks second; natural gas, which includes LNG and ranks third; the primary commercial jet category, which ranks fourth; passenger vehicles, at No. 5; computer chips, which actually rank seventh, though at the time this series started, ranked sixth; vaccines, plasma and other blood fractions, which ranked seventh when the series started; motor vehicle parts, the No. 8-ranked U.S. export; and medicines, largely in pill form, which ranked No. 9 when the series began but had slipped to No. 10 by the release of the September data.

In the same way that the low-value shipments category is relatively opaque, so too is the medical instrument category, though far less so. Nonetheless, $11.21 billion of the $26.46 billion total, is categorized as “not elsewhere specified or indicated” — or more than 42 percent.

The top 10 markets are, not surprisingly, advanced economies in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania (Australia). The top five have already topped $2 billion this year, the top seven having topped $1 billion.

Increases in exports to China, Canada and Japan are all in the single digits while those to the Netherlands, a transshipment hub for Europe, and Mexico have increased 28.48{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} and 12.81{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f}, respectively.

Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and what is quite possibly New Orleans International Airport are the three dominant gateways for these exports. (The New Orleans port data comingles air and ocean cargo in the Census Bureau data.) Those three account slightly less than 30{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} of the total this year.

The top seven all topped $ billion through September.

How RGB-IR Cameras can enhance medical devices

Diagnostic and therapeutic accuracy has significantly increased as a result of the usage of cameras in the medical device industry. Camera-enabled medical devices, such as retina scanners, automated blood analyzers, digital microscopes, and skin scanners, have greatly decreased medical personnel’s workload and improved the overall patient experience.

Advances in embedded vision and camera technology have largely contributed to this transformation, with new cameras supporting many current medical applications. RGB-IR cameras have been a game changer due to their ability to record IR and visible light data with the same camera without color corruption.

This article discusses how RGB-IR cameras, which can capture images that adhere to the stringent requirements of current medical procedures, improve the performance of medical devices.

RGB-IR cameras and their growing popularity in the medical industry

Before examining how RGB-IR cameras benefit medical and life science applications, it is important to comprehend what they are and how they operate.

Sensors that collect visible and infrared light in the same frame are used in camera modules. This frequently resulted in a deterioration in image quality due to a process known as color corruption. This occurs when the IR data interpolates with the color (or RGB) data and affects the color fidelity of the resulting image.

Two approaches have commonly been employed to address this challenge:

  1. Capture RGB and IR data with two cameras
  2. Using an IR cut filter during the day to prevent IR light from falling on the sensor

In the first case, the system gets bulkier and more difficult to manage. However, the IR-cut filter solves this problem.

The IR cut filter is attached to the lens and is controlled by a mechanical switch. However, this causes wear and tear, dramatically reducing the camera system’s lifetime.

RGB-IR cameras help in this situation.

Technology

Sensors with distinct RGB and IR pixels are used in RGB-IR cameras. Unlike regular camera sensors with the Bayer BGGR pattern, RGB-IR cameras use a new form of CFA (Color Filter Array) with an extra set of pixels that permits only IR light to pass through.

The CFA configuration of an RGB-IR sensor is as follows:

How RGB-IR Cameras can enhance medical devices

Figure 1. Bayer pattern. Image Credit: e-con Systems

RGB-IR filter pattern.

Figure 2. RGB-IR filter pattern. Image Credit: e-con Systems

This innovative technique allows for the separation of RGB and IR data from the camera output. Numerous medical applications benefit from this, including ophthalmology, fluorescence-guided surgery, and remote patient monitoring.

The following are some of the major advantages RGB-IR cameras provide:

  • Increased imaging capability in day and night conditions for continuous 24/7 image and video capture.
  • Smaller form factor due to eliminating the need for two separate cameras to gather RGB and IR data.
  • Improved camera lifetime due to non-mechanical switching between visible and IR imaging. This would also mean that the medical equipment linked with the camera would have a longer lifespan.
  • A distinct IR channel that helps measure the amount of IR light in the RGB component for intelligent color adjustment.

Designing an embedded camera for RGB-IR imaging

As RGB IR imaging necessitates a distinct CFA, the camera system must be precisely developed. This implies that different camera components, such as the sensor, optics, and ISP, must be capable of receiving and processing images suitable for RGB-IR imaging.

The essential parameters to consider when assessing a camera for RGB-IR imaging in terms of its component features are discussed in this section.

Sensor

The camera sensor must include a pixel array that includes both RGB and IR pixels. Various sensor manufacturers, including onsemi and OmniVision, provide RGB IR sensors with specialized RGB and IR pixels.

The pixel pattern of a sensor with RGB-IR capabilities is shown below:

Pixel array of an RGB-IR sensor.

Figure 3. Pixel array of an RGB-IR sensor. Image Credit: e-con Systems

Optics

Most off-the-shelf lenses on the market include an IR-cut filter to restrict IR light from entering during the day. This is because most cameras still employ mechanical switches to shift between day and night settings.

However, RGB-IR imaging requires a lens with a dual bandpass filter. This ensures that light from the visible and NIR spectrums falls on the sensor.

The transmission diagram for a dual bandpass filter is provided below:

Transmission diagram of a dual bandpass filter.

Figure 4. Transmission diagram of a dual bandpass filter. Image Credit: e-con Systems

ISP

The Image Signal Processor (ISP) is one of the most significant components in an RGB-IR camera since extracting the RGB and IR frames from the data given by the sensor requires considerable ISP-side acumen.

e-con Systems, for example, does this through its proprietary algorithm. The company’s engineers also used their ISP expertise to devise an algorithm to remove IR interference from the RGB channels to achieve the correct colors.

One of its other distinguishing features is the ability to tune the ISP to produce processed RGB and IR frames based on the needs of the host platform.

How RGB-IR Cameras can enhance medical devices

Figure 5. RGB window imaging processing. Image Credit: e-con Systems

How RGB-IR Cameras can enhance medical devices

Figure 6. IR window imaging processing. Image Credit: e-con Systems

Key medical applications where RGB-IR cameras are making a wave of change

Some of the benefits of RGB-IR cameras have already been discussed. The following section details how they impact some of the most popular camera-enabled medical applications.

Remote patient monitoring

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) devices have benefited the medical industry by minimizing the need for in-person patient monitoring. Using artificial intelligence, RPM systems are now powerful enough to detect patient falls and movements autonomously. These life-changing devices require cameras to collect images and videos to make all of this feasible.

One of the major features of a remote patient monitoring system is that it must be operational around the clock to enable ongoing patient monitoring. This necessitates that the camera functions flawlessly during the day and night. This is where RGB-IR cameras come in.

They allow the RPM device to take images utilizing IR imaging even at night without requiring two separate cameras or a mechanical switch to activate an IR cut filter.

(Left) RGB image during daytime and (Right) IR image during night-time.

Figure 7. (Left) RGB image during daytime and (Right) IR image during night-time. Image Credit: e-con Systems

Image-guided surgery

In surgeries such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy, colorectal surgeries to evaluate bowel viability in hernia cases, mapping of sentinel lymph nodes, etc., fluorescence-guided surgical techniques such as Indocyanine Green (ICG) surgery are used (source: sciencedirect.com).

The dye can become fluorescent when subjected to a wavelength of 750 to 800 nm, which is how ICG surgery works. As a result, the camera utilized must be capable of capturing images in the Near-Infrared (NIR) spectrum.

But why not observe the organs with an RGB camera and an IR light source simultaneously?

The difficulty here is the low spectral resolution. To better grasp this, consider cancer diagnosis as an example application.

In this case, capturing the fluorescent image with a standard RGB camera may not provide enough detail. On the other hand, the IR capabilities of an RGB-IR camera can be utilized to efficiently enhance the cancer diagnosis procedure. At the same time, the RGB data can be used to evaluate any anomalies discovered using the IR output. All of this may be accomplished with a single-camera system.

(Left) RGB image during ICG Surgery and (Right) IR image during ICG Surgery.

Figure 8. (Left) RGB image during ICG Surgery and (Right) IR image during ICG Surgery. Image Credit: e-con Systems

Ophthalmology

The quality of images provided by camera modules inside ophthalmic devices such as fundus cameras and retina scanners substantially influences diagnosis accuracy.

IR imaging is required in these devices to observe sub-retinal characteristics because the deposits appear bright and thicker compared to the optic nerve heads, retinal vessels, and choroidal vessels found in darker regions. Visible light imaging, on the other hand, is essential to ensure that the camera gets the required details of the eye.

This necessitates the use of a single camera that is capable of both visible and IR imaging. As a result, RGB-IR cameras are ideal for such applications. Medical professionals can now efficiently detect and treat eye problems using these new-generation embedded cameras, which provide visible and IR images from the same camera.

Final words

As detailed above, RGB-IR cameras have numerous advantages and are well-suited for various medical applications requiring concurrent RGB and IR imaging. At the same time, specialized NIR cameras are favored for applications that require exceptionally high NIR sensitivity and performance. Before proceeding with camera integration into the device, it is advised that users consult with an imaging professional such as e-con Systems.

About e-con Systems

e-con Systems™ is a leading OEM camera manufacturer with 18+ years of experience and expertise in embedded vision. It focuses on delivering vision and camera solutions to industries such as medical, retail, and industrial. The company’s wide portfolio of products includes MIPI camera modules, USB 3.1 Gen 1 cameras, GMSL cameras, stereo cameras, etc. It has built over 250+ product-based solutions and shipped millions of cameras around the globe. What sets the company apart is its deep expertise in building customized product designs while ensuring rapid prototyping and custom modifications in hardware and software. e-con Systems™ has close partnerships with Sony, ON Semiconductor®, Omnivision, NVIDIA, Xilinx, Socionext™, Cypress, Connect Tech, Toradex, Variscite, Toshiba, Diamond Systems, Avermedia and Texas Instruments.

Giving sight to medical applications:

e-con Systems™ offers end-to-end camera solutions to meet the needs of the medical and healthcare industry. It has a strong foothold in the medical device industry – having empowered clients to integrate unique camera solutions for medical and life science applications in ophthalmology, dentistry, dermatology, laboratory equipment, microscopy, assistive technology, point-of-care technology etc. e-con Systems also has a solid track record of working with the medical device industry leaders such as Thermofisher, Idexx, Perkin Elmer, Amwell, Welch Allyn, Seegene and others.”

Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments.

Circuit Clinical and Middletown Medical Partner to Expand Access to Clinical Research for 100K+ Patients in the Hudson Valley

BUFFALO, N.Y., Nov. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Circuit Clinical—one of the nation’s fastest growing integrated research organizations—has expanded their presence in the Hudson Valley region through a partnership with Middletown Medical, a top tier, multi-specialty physician group, increasing access to clinical research as a care option to an additional 100,000 patients that Middletown Medical serves. This partnership will bring trials to a more diverse patient population—comprised of approximately 50{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} non-white individuals.

Circuit Clinical and Middletown Medical Partner to Expand Access to Clinical Research for 100K+ Patients in the Hudson Valley
Middletown Medical Logo

The breadth of Middletown Medical’s primary and specialty care, combined with Circuit’s commitment to improving patient access and inclusion in clinical trials, will bring new care opportunities to Middletown’s patients through the provider relationships they already trust – further positioning the region as a destination for medical research and advancements. This partnership will initially include 11 Principal Investigators, participating in specialties such as, but not limited to, cardiology, rheumatology, neurology, gastroenterology, and family medicine.

“Patient care is a top priority for Middletown Medical and we are committed to providing any and all opportunities to our physicians and the communities they serve,” said Dr Rajan Gulati, President of Middletown Medical.

Middletown Medical and Circuit Clinical are committed to reducing the burden on patients who opt in for research participation. Along with localizing patient care within the Middletown Medical physicians’ offices, Circuit’s approach to transforming the patient journey includes hybrid care options through telemedicine, fully decentralized trial solutions, as well as trialjourney.com—an award-winning patient experience platform for finding trials and leaving site ratings and reviews to improve the experience of participating in clinical trials. This variety of care options can help eliminate traditional care obstacles that have created a burden for patients to participate in clinical research. Furthermore, patient participation in research will serve to benefit both individuals and communities, including offering extra care visits without co-pays, strengthening the patient-provider relationship, and often leading to improved health outcomes through a better and more personal care experience.

This collaboration was made possible through strategic partnerships with Labcorp—a leading global life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions—as well as Medidata—a Dassault Systems company that is powering smarter treatments and healthier people with the world’s most trusted platform for clinical development, commercial, and real-world data.

“We are beyond excited to expand our national research network through amazing partnerships like this one with Middletown Medical,” said Irfan Khan, MD, CEO of Circuit Clinical. “Together we can empower patients to engage with clinical trials as a care option. The combined efforts of Circuit Clinical and our strategic partners, Labcorp and Medidata, allow us to make partnerships like this with Middletown Medical not only a reality, but as optimal and innovative as possible.”

About Middletown Medical

Middletown Medical is a multi-specialty physicians’ group dedicated to providing patients with top quality, comprehensive care in a warm and caring environment which delivers care to over 100,000 patients throughout Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster counties in New York state. Please access Middletownmedical.com to learn more about their doctors and the expansive scope of services provided.

About Circuit Clinical

Circuit Clinical®, one of the fastest-growing integrated research organizations in the USA, is dedicated to empowering patients to choose clinical research as a care option. Circuit is committed to transforming the experience for physicians and their patients of finding, choosing, and participating in clinical research. The company delivers clinical research services and an award-winning patient engagement platform, trialjourney.com. Learn more at circuitclinical.com and follow along for updates and announcements on LinkedIn.

For additional questions or inquiries, please contact the following:

Circuit Clinical

Candice Kent
VP of Marketing and Communications
[email protected]

Middletown Medical

Darcy Shepard
CEO, Middletown Medical
[email protected] 

SOURCE Circuit Clinical

3 Medical Instruments Stocks With Potential to Outperform

In recent years, the medical instrument industry, part of the wider Medical sector, has seen a transformation in the nature of its business, leading to higher research and development activities for developing cutting-edge technologies. The industry’s landscape changed further with the onset of the COVID-19 crisis that put robotic and remote services in the limelight. Although the majority of economies have opened up following strict lockdowns in the past couple of years, the demand for robotic and remote services is likely to remain.

However, the industry is currently facing several challenges, including supply-chain challenges, a shortage of semiconductor chips and global inflationary pressure. These developments have resulted in an extremely tough situation related to raw material and labor costs as well as freight charges. The shortage of semiconductor chips has resulted in a delay in the production of commercialized products.

Although the industry faced headwinds, a few medical instrument companies were able to maintain their recovery trend in the first nine months of 2022. Moreover, the ongoing macro headwinds are likely to improve in 2023, which should help top-line and bottom-line growth.

Here we discuss three medical instruments stocks — ShockWave Medical SWAV, iRadimed IRMD and Tactile Systems Technology TCMD — which are likely to outperform the industry going forward amid an improving world economy and easing macro headwinds. These stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each. These stocks also have a Momentum Score of A or B, which indicates that these would be good stocks for momentum investors based on recent price changes and earnings estimate revisions. Meanwhile, the underperformance of iRadimed and Tactile Systems in the past six months compared with the Zacks Medical – Instruments industry may lead to a rally in these stocks on the back of strong fundamentals. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

3 Medical Instruments Stocks With Potential to Outperform
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ShockWave Medical

ShockWave Medical has a Momentum Score of B. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has moved 12.1{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} and 4.1{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} north for 2022 and 2023, respectively, in the past 60 days.

The increased adoption of coronary IVL in the United States, continued sales force expansion, growing international expansion and higher adoption of Shockwave products are likely to boost the company’s performance. The company’s strong global growth highlights the significant clinical need for a better calcium treatment and how well the team at ShockWave Medical is addressing the same with IVL.

ShockWave Medical, Inc. Price

ShockWave Medical, Inc. Price

ShockWave Medical, Inc. price | ShockWave Medical, Inc. Quote

iRadimed

iRadimed has a Momentum Score of B. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has improved 2.9{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} for 2022 in the past 60 days. The consensus estimate for 2023 earnings stands at $1.20 per share, implying year-over-year growth of 13.2{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f}.

iRadimed is a leader in the development of innovative magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) medical devices and the only known provider of a non-magnetic intravenous (“IV”) infusion pump system and non-magnetic patient vital signs monitoring systems designed for use during MRI procedures. During the third quarter, the company reported 23{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} growth in revenues and 35{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} in earnings from the year-ago period. The company stated that significant demand for its IV pump and patient monitor product lines continued during the third quarter. The company has a strong bookings growth that continued to add to its extensive backlog and is likely to drive revenues for the remainder of 2022 and 2023.

iRadimed Corporation Price

iRadimed Corporation Price

iRadimed Corporation price | iRadimed Corporation Quote

Tactile Systems

Tactile Systems has a Momentum Score of A. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for loss has narrowed 12.6{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} for 2022. The consensus estimates for 2023 loss stood at 10 cents, implying a year-over-year improvement of 87.3{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f}.

The medical technology company develops medical devices for the treatment of chronic diseases at home. During the third quarter, it reported 24{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} growth in revenues and loss narrowed 35.3{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} year over year. Strong demand for its products during the quarter led the company to raise its revenue guidance by approximately 1.5{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} as measured at the midpoint of the guided ranges. Meanwhile, its settlement of a pending securities class action lawsuit earlier this month removed an overhang.

Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. Price

Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. Price

Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. price | Tactile Systems Technology, Inc. Quote

Zacks Names “Single Best Pick to Double”

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.

This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9{bf0515afdcaddba073662ceb89fbb62b6b1bf123143c0e06b788e1946e8c353f} in one year.

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