MedTech News
.................... by Andrew Celentano

Nasal swab test spots early Alzheimer’s signals
Duke Health researchers show that a quick, outpatient nasal swab can pick up early biological changes linked to Alzheimer’s, even before thinking and memory problems appear.

Scientists create cancer-fighting immune cells right in the body
Now, scientists at UC San Francisco have developed a method to precisely reprogram these cancer-fighting cells directly inside the body, potentially eliminating the manufacturing process, cost, and waiting time that has kept this life-saving therapy out of reach for many patients around the world.

DCwire® Micro Guidewire Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance, Marking a Key Milestone in Peijia Medical’s Global Expansion
SUZHOU, China, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Peijia Medical (9996.HK), a leading Chinese domestic company in the high-growth transcatheter valve therapeutics and neurovascular interventions markets, announced that its DCwire® Micro Guidewire has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) on March 17, 2026. The product was independently designed and developed by Achieva Medical Limited, a subsidiary of the Company.

Mammotome Secures FDA Clearance for Industry-First, In‑Room MR Vacuum‑Assisted Breast Biopsy System and New HydroMARK™ Plus MR Biopsy Site Markers
CINCINNATI, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mammotome, a Danaher company, announces FDA Clearance of two innovations for MR-guided breast biopsy: the Mammotome Prima™ MR Dual Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy System – the industry’s first solution designed to be positioned in the MRI scanner room at the patient’s side – and the HydroMARK™ Plus Breast Biopsy Site Marker for MR, engineered for exclusive use with the Mammotome Prima™ system universal targeting set. Following a successful debut of the Mammotome Prima™ MR system in Europe, both products will be introduced to U.S. clinicians at the 2026 Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) Symposium. By bringing the device directly into the scanner room, the Mammotome Prima™ MR system enhances clinician coordination, streamlines communication, and helps maintain consistent focus on the patient throughout the procedure.

Spinal Elements Expands Ventana® Platform with FDA 510(k) Clearance and First Cases of Ventana® A ALIF System
CARLSBAD, Calif., March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Spinal Elements®, a spine technology company known for developing innovative surgical solutions that prioritize clinical performance and surgical efficiency, today announced 510(k) clearance from the FDA and the first cases using its Ventana A Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) System. Ventana A strengthens Spinal Elements’ family of 3D printed titanium interbodies for lumbar and cervical fusion and is being introduced through a limited market launch.

MiniMed Announces FDA Clearance of MiniMed Flex™, the Company’s Smallest Insulin Pump Featuring Its First Smartphone-Controlled Design
MiniMed Flex™ is about half the size of the previous generation MiniMed™ 780G system, and features the SmartGuard™ adaptive algorithm to automatically adjust and autocorrect insulin delivery in real-time

Brain tumors hijack sugar metabolism to evade immune attack
Study finds immune cells in glioblastoma use fructose to evade immune response, pointing to a new treatment target

Prodeon gets FDA clearance for BPH-treating nitinol implant
Prodeon Medical announced today that it received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Urocross expander system.