DeviceTalks Podcast Network

In this episode of the DeviceTalks Weekly podcast, we tackle a range of topics related to the surgical robotics industry. In our keynote conversation, Brian Miller, formerly of Intuitive and now CEO of Sovato, discusses the potential of telesurgery, a promising capability of surgical robotic systems that could save lives while reducing costs and improving efficiency across the healthcare system.

In our FOMO interview, Christy Gaudet, global head of solutions at Karl Storz, explains the company's decision to discontinue the Asensus Surgical robotics systems and focus on the often under-appreciated art of imaging. Finally, surgical robotics expert Steve Bell shares his top five newsmakers from the Society of Robotic Surgery (SRS) Annual Meeting, including Ottava, AI, and humanoid surgical robots.

Host Tom Salemi also interviews Jim Leonard, vice president of sales at Harmonic Drive, the sponsor of this episode. Visit http://HarmonicDrive.net for more information.

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In this episode of the DeviceTalks Weekly Podcast, Host Tom Salemi is joined by Harith Rajagopalan, MD, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Fractyl Health. Dr. Rajagopalan explains why Fractyl shifted its focus from treating type 2 diabetes to helping former GLP-1 users maintain their weight loss with Revita, an outpatient endoscopic procedure designed to target the root causes of metabolic disease in the duodenum. He also shares new clinical data, the strategy behind Fractyl's pivotal trial, the company's commercialization plans, and why he believes metabolic endoscopy could become an entirely new category of care.

This episode is brought to you by the  DeviceTalks Interventional Innovations series, July 28-30th. To register for this complimentary series, click here.

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Chapters

(00:01:35) - Keynote Interview - Harith Rajagopalan, MD, PhD, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Fractyl Health
(00:06:26) - Starting with Back of the Napkin Idea
(00:18:45) - Why patients are enthusiastic
(00:24:35) - The Parallels to Renal Denervation
(00:29:40) - Commercial Plans, Pivotal Trials & What's Next

In this episode of the DeviceTalks Weekly Podcast, Managing Editor Kayleen Brown sits down with Johnson & Johnson MedTech Heart Recovery Worldwide President Devi Govender at DeviceTalks Boston.

Govender shares how a deeply personal family experience shaped her mission to transform cardiovascular care. She reflects on Abiomed's integration into Johnson & Johnson, the evolution of heart recovery therapies, and why the industry must shift its mindset from treating "heart failure" to enabling "heart recovery."

The discussion explores patient-centered innovation, AI, clinical evidence, and the power of combining technologies, data, and advocacy to redefine the future of cardiovascular care for patients around the world.

This episode is sponsored by  Freudenberg Medical. Listen for a conversation with Shane Healy, Senior Director of Technology. Visit FreudenbergMedical.com for more information.

We'll kick off this episode with Newmarker's Newsmakers. Host Tom Salemi and MassDevice Editor Chris Newmarker revisit the top MedTech stories of the week: Zeta Surgical, Hologic, Medtronic, Fractyl Health, and Vicarious Surgical.

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Chapters

(00:09:10) - Zeta wins FDA clearance for TMS robotic stereotactic system
(00:13:01) - Private equity firms reportedly set $4B price on Hologic Surgical unit
(00:15:03) - Medtronic, FDA pick up legal victories in spinal cord stimulator suits
(00:16:20) - Fractyl Health says its single-catheter treatment maintained most GLP-1 weight loss
(00:22:17) - Vicarious Surgical's board wants to shut down and liquidate the robotics developer
(00:29:53) - Interview with Shane Healy, Senior Director of Technology, Freudenberg Medical
(00:36:53) - Keynote interview with Devi Govender, Worldwide President, Heart Recovery, Johnson & Johnson MedTech

In this episode of DeviceTalks Weekly, Host Tom Salemi explores the breakthrough technologies—and the unique culture—driving one of MedTech's most ambitious missions with XCATH CEO Eduardo Fonseca. Fonseca shares the remarkable story behind XCATH's first remote robotic stroke procedure. Fonseca recounts the years of preparation, the high-stakes operation, and the emotional moment when a patient facing severe disability walked away with what he calls "a second birthday."

Along the way, Tom and Eduardo discuss AI's growing role in surgery, the global shortage of stroke specialists, the future of robotic intervention, and why expanding access—not simply advancing technology—is the company's ultimate goal.

To learn more about XCATH and talk with Fonseca, join us on July 29 for a live DeviceTalks discussion. Register here for the free webinar. Thank you to our sponsors Confluent, Jabil, Maxon, Solesis, Viant, and VitalPath.

MassDevice Editor Chris Newmarker returns to deliver this episode’s Newmarker’s Newsmakers – MDUFA, Corza Medical, Resmed, GTCR, Zimmer Biomet, Pacira Biosciences, and Johnson & Johnson MedTech.

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Chapters

(00:08:36) - FDA releases draft MDUFA VI agreement outlining proposed legislation and program changes
(00:12:50) - Resmed to sell MatrixCare software business to private equity firm for $490M/ GTCR to divest Biosurgery unit of Corza Medical
(00:15:58) - Medtronic’s chief sustainability officer is departing
(00:17:55) - Zimmer Biomet to pay up to $140M for Iovera nerve therapy tech from Pacira BioSciences
(00:19:56) - Johnson & Johnson wins FDA approval for ThermoCool SmartTouch dual-energy ablation system

In this episode of the DeviceTalks Weekly Podcast, host Tom Salemi is reassured by his conversation with Joe Catanese, CEO of Calyxo, a urology startup that has developed a system designed to simplify kidney stone removal.

Catanese previously helped build Neotract, a urology startup that was acquired by Teleflex for more than $1 billion. Now, he's leading another potential gamechanger and may have his sights set on an IPO.

Speaking of gamechangers, HistoSonics continues to shatter fundraising expectations. The company recently completed a financing round that valued it at $3.75 billion. In this week's FOMO interview, HistoSonics President and CEO Mike Blue speaks with MassDevice Editor Chris Newmarker during a keynote conversation at DeviceTalks Minnesota.

In this excerpt, Blue reflects on the company's first major fundraising round, which attracted high-profile investors including Jeff Bezos and Peter Thiel, and shares his perspective on just how large the opportunity for histotripsy could become.

But first, Tom and Jim Hammerand, managing editor of Medical Design & Outsourcing, discuss AI—or LLMs, or whatever term you prefer. Is the hype beginning to fade? And what should the industry make of the recent announcement from Midjourney Medical?

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Want access to the complete DeviceTalks Podcast Network (DTPN)? Follow us today at https://devicetalks.castos.com/subscribe

Chapters

(00:05:29) - AI Talk with Jim Hammerand, managing editor, Medical Design & Outsourcing
(00:24:46) - DeviceTalks Minnesota interview excerpt - Mike Blue, CEO and President, Histosonics
(00:41:44) - Keynote Interview with Joe Catanese, CEO and President, Calyxo