Global medtech corporation Medtronic has completed the acquisition of two companies that specialise in technologies for energy surgery: PEAK Surgical and Salient Surgical Technologies.

PEAK Surgical is a leader in the new field of advanced energy surgical incision. Its PlasmaBlade cutting technology has been approved for use in a range of applications, including Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgery and reconstructive surgery.

Medtronic has acquired PEAK for a total of $120 million, including an existing ownership stake of $15 million. PEAK’s revenue is currently $20 million per annum and shows rapid growth.

Salient Surgical Technologies is a pioneer in the use of energy techniques for haemostatic sealing of soft tissue and bone. Its Transcollation technology has approval for use in a wide range of surgical applications including orthopaedic, spinal, open abdominal and thoracic procedures.

Medtronic has acquired Salient for a total of $525 million, including an existing ownership stake of $45 million. Salient’s revenue is currently $100 million per annum and shows rapid growth.

Chris O’Connell, EVP and President of Medtronic’s Restorative Therapies Group, said the acquisitions would enable Medtronic to “focus on offering a more broad portfolio of innovative surgical products”.

He noted: “Together, these acquisitions represent Medtronic’s commitment to innovation across the entire surgical continuum from incision to closing, and represent entries into new areas such as plastic/reconstruction, electrophysiology, oncology and large bone orthopaedics.”

FDA approval has been issued to Intersect ENT’s implant offering controlled drug delivery for patients with chronic sinusitis.

The system prevents obstruction of the ethmoid sinus following surgery, reducing the need for additional surgical procedures and systemic steroids that can have serious side effects.

David W. Kennedy, Professor of Otorhinolaryngology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia, USA, said that the combination of minimally invasive techniques and local drug delivery will be “the wave of the future in sinus treatment”.

Propel, a mometason furoate implant, uses advanced corticosteroid with anti-inflammatory properties. It is inserted following endoscopic sinus surgery to stop the condition returning.

The spring-like implant expands to prop open the sinus and gradually delivers the medicine directly to the sinus tissue.

Chronic sinusitis often requires a combination of surgical and medical treatments.

It is a common condition where patients’ sinuses become swollen and inflamed, leading to difficulty in breathing, facial pain or headache, and reduced sense of smell and taste.

Each year, 500,000 US patients undergo sinus surgery to treat the condition, but the majority of patients experience recurrent symptoms within a year of surgery.

The FDA approval is based on results from three prospective clinical trials involving 205 patients in the US.

Intersect ENT is a company based in Palo Alto, California, and focuses on developing treatment alternatives to improve quality of life for ear, nose and throat patients.

A nighttime-breathing machine and a mouthpiece intended to be worn at night have both been shown to be effective in combatting sleep apnea.

The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine pumps air through a mask while the patient is asleep. The mask pushes a steady stream of air through the nose to keep the throat and airway open.

This improves airflow in the patients’ lungs, according to a new report funded by HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the US.

Another treatment, a mouthpiece called a mandibular advancement device (MAD) can also be effective, the report discovered.

Carolyn M. Clancy, Director of AHRQ, stated: “These guides and this new report will help patients and their doctors understand what treatment options might be best for them.”

Many kinds of CPAP machines and masks exist; some fit over the nose, and others cover both the nose and mouth.

Sleep apnea is a disorder that disrupts sleep for an estimated 12 million Americans, with millions more undiagnosed.