Dive Brief:
- Medtronic is buying RF Surgical Systems, the California-based manufacturer of Assure Detection System X for $235 million. Assure Detection System X helps prevent sponges, gauze and towels from being left inside patients during surgery.
- The system uses low radio frequency signals to track the three surgical supplies and is currently used by more than 4,500 operating room, trauma and labor and delivery suites in the U.S., John Barnhill, vice president of marketing for RF Surgical told the StarTribune.
- Objects left inside patients potentially cause complications, with up to 4,000 cases annually in the U.S., according to NoThing Left Behind, an organization that strives to improve surgical patient safety.
Dive Insight:
The sale represents the latest in a string of acquisitions this year, headlined by the $9-billion deal with Covidian in January. The company has also purchased medical-device manufacturer Aptus Endosystems (for $110 million), Netherlands-based Diabeter, a youth diabetes clinic and research center and Sophono, which produces magnetic hearing implants.
RF Surgical will be part of the surgical solutions division within Medtronic's minimally invasive technologies group. The deal is expected to close next month.