DeviceTalks Podcast Network

In this episode of DeviceTalks Weekly, Managing Editor Kayleen Brown takes the helm, leading a keynote interview with Jenny Barba, co-founder of Features Capital. Barba shares her path into venture capital, identifies winning strategies for start-ups, and highlights some of the more exciting companies in the Features Capital portfolio.

A special thanks to this episode’s sponsor, SHL Healthcare, for supporting DeviceTalks! Go to www.shl-healthcare.com for more information. As a special bonus, download SHL Healthcare's complimentary white paper highlighting the outcomes of using the combination of advanced sewing, welding, and electromechanical assembly here: https://www.devicetalks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/SHL-Healthcare_Whitepaper_Integrated-Approach.pdf

Kayleen Brown also leads our FOMO interview with Nick West, MD, chief medical officer of Shockwave Medical, part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech. They talk about the future calcium modification, intravascular lithotripsy, and the evolving treatment of vascular disease.

We’ll start things off with Host Tom Salemi and Chris Newmarker of MassDevice reviewing the newsmakers of the week - BioVentrix, Medical 21, VB Spine, Augmedics, Medtronic, Danaher, and Masimo.

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Enjoy the show? Follow DeviceTalks Weekly on all major podcast players + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

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

Chapters

(00:06:47) - #5 BioVentrix & Medical 21 IPOs
(00:10:24) - #4 VB Spine acquires Augmedics
(00:11:35) - #3 Medtronic Stealth Access robotic system
(00:13:14) - #2 Medtronic earnings & growth updates
(00:17:00) - #1 Danaher to acquire Masimo
(00:23:15) - FOMO Interview – Nick West, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Shockwave Medical, part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech
(00:23:42) - Part 1 of our interview with Per Bjorkman, Chief Commercial Officer, SHL Healthcare
(00:41:31) - Keynote Interview, Jenny Barba, co-founder, Features Capital

In this episode of DeviceTalks Weekly, Host Tom Salemi speaks with MedTech veteran Darrin Uecker about a career shaped by some of the industry’s most notable innovations and acquisitions.

Uecker’s journey begins at Computer Motion, where he served as CTO through its historic acquisition by Intuitive Surgical. He recounts how that deal came together and traces the path that led him to senior leadership roles at multiple startups that ultimately achieved successful exits.

Today, Uecker is chief technology officer at Pulse Biosciences, a small publicly traded company developing a next generation of pulsed-field ablation technology. He discusses the unconventional steps Pulse has taken to build its business, reviews the company’s latest clinical data, and shares his perspective on the future of the fast-moving PFA market.

In our FOMO Interview, Ralph Kern, MD, chief medical officer of neuro startup Cognito Therapeutics, explains why he’s excited about technical advances in the field. He’s interviewed by Jim Hammerand, managing editor at Medical Design & Outsourcing magazine.

As always we start the episode with MassDevice Editor Chris Newmarker and his top 5 stories of the week….aka Newmarker’s Newsmakers.

Thank you for listening to DeviceTalks Weekly!

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Enjoy the show? Follow DeviceTalks Weekly on all major podcast players + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

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

Chapters

(00:04:15) - Karl Storz, Smith+Nephew partner on advanced surgical tech
(00:06:32) - NextSense debuts brain activity-sensing headphones to improve sleep
(00:11:17) - Medtronic stock gets a ratings boost on new products
(00:12:40) - Johnson & Johnson MedTech has encouraging Omnypulse results, more data backs Varipulse
(00:14:35) - Stryker says DOJ, SEC have closed bribery probes
(00:16:40) - FOMO Interview – Ralph Kern, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Cognito Therapeutics
(00:28:15) - Keynote Interview – Darrin Uecker, Chief Technology Officer, Pulse Biosciences
(00:48:05) - The Pulse Biosciences stor

In this episode of DeviceTalks Weekly, CathWorks CEO Ramin Mousavi explains how the company built a surprisingly fast path to acquisition.

Founded in 2013, the startup was forced to go back to the drawing board. By incorporating LLMs and other advances, CathWorks developed a better way to diagnose heart disease—leading to a strategic investment from Medtronic in 2022 and a full acquisition announced this week.

Mousavi also shares his personal path into MedTech, including the unlikely story of an Iranian-American leading an Israel-based startup. In a conversation with Host Tom Salemi, he reflects on how employees kept the company’s mission front and center through constant change.

In this week’s FOMO, Managing Editor Kayleen Brown draws on her own experience with Type 2 diabetes to explore how Dexcom is using data and AI. She speaks with Girish Naganathan, EVP and Chief Technology Officer at Dexcom.

Plus, MassDevice Editor Chris Newmarker delivers Newmarker’s Newsmakers, featuring Medtronic, Siemens Healthineers, Stryker, Boston Scientific, and Applied Medical.

Thank you for listening to DeviceTalks Weekly!

***

Enjoy the show? Follow DeviceTalks Weekly on all major podcast players + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

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

Chapters

(00:02:38) - State of Minnesota / Newmarker’s Newsmakers
(00:08:00) - Medtronic Structural Heart President Nina Goodheart to retire
(00:09:11) - Siemens Healthineers unveils $12M R&D facility in Ireland
(00:12:10) - Stryker officials have high hopes for 2026 with Mako RPS
(00:13:54) - Boston Scientific posts Q4 beats as sales rise 16%, stock dips as EP sales come up short
(00:16:19) - Medtronic reportedly must pay Applied Medical $382M over antitrust suit
(00:21:52) - FOMO Interview – Girish Naganathan, EVP, Chief Technology Officer, Dexcom
(00:32:28) - Keynote Interview – Ramin Mousavi, President, CEO, CathWorks

In this week’s episode of DeviceTalks Weekly, neurosurgeon Adam Arthur, MD, explains why he’s trading surgical scrubs for the chance to help lead Medtronic’s Neurovascular business as its new chief medical officer. Dr. Arthur joins Host Tom Salemi to discuss how neurosurgery is reaching more patients today—and what it must do to expand its impact in the years ahead.

Before the keynote interview, Managing Editor Kayleen Brown speaks with Brittany Mai of Confluent Medical Technologies about the future of neuro and minimally invasive surgery. Thank you to Confluent for sponsoring this week’s episode. Learn more at ConfluentMedical.com.

At the top of the show, MassDevice Editor Chris Newmarker talks with Wayne Paterson, CEO of Anteris Technologies, about the company’s new agreement with Medtronic and what it means for the future of TAVR.

Thank you for listening to DeviceTalks Weekly!

***

Enjoy the show? Follow DeviceTalks Weekly on all major podcast players + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

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

Chapters

(00:03:38) - Chris Newmarker interviews Wayne Paterson, CEO of Anteris Technologies
(00:06:10) - This is not your Father’s TAVR
(00:08:00) - Terms of the Medtronic investment
(00:25:30) - Kayleen Brown sits down with Brittany Mai of Confluent Medical
(00:29:50) - How is minimally invasive technology changing?
(00:31:28) - Keynote conversation – Adam Arthur, MD, new chief medical officer for Medtronic Neurovascular
(00:35:30) - What makes a good neurosurgeon?
(00:39:01) - Choosing impact over intimacy
(00:44:50) - What do patients fear more than death?
(00:49:45) - More focus needed on Women’s neurological health including chronic refractory migraine

In this episode of DeviceTalks Weekly, Host Tom Salemi interviews Jupiter Endovascular CEO Carl St. Bernard about the “soft” design of the company's TFX technology, designed to simplify the complicated procedure of clearing cardiovascular blockages, including pulmonary artery embolisms. Jupiter is recording fundraising and clinical trials wins. St. Bernard shares what’s next.

In this week’s FOMO, Kayleen Brown interviews Javier Olea, Life Science Segment Director at Averna about test and measurement in medical device manufacturing. Visit www.averna.com to learn more.

We open the episode with this week’s Newsmakers compiled by MassDevice Editor Chris Newmarker – Merge, OpenAI, Abbott, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Anteris Technologies.

To register for our upcoming Cardiac Innovation series go here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5203526/B4EE367D76F7ECCAC132665B50E61A7C/5516160?partnerref=Podcast

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Enjoy the show? Follow DeviceTalks Weekly on all major podcast players + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode. Want access to the complete DeviceTalks Podcast Network (DTPN)? Follow us today at https://devicetalks.castos.com/subscribe

Chapters

(00:06:00) - #5 - OpenAI invests in Sam Altman’s Merge Labs BCI startup
(00:08:30) - #4 - Abbott picks up CE mark for TactiFlex dual-energy ablation catheter
(00:11:27) - #3 - Johnson & Johnson MedTech sales up 7.5% in Q4
(00:13:24) - #2 - Boston Scientific has a potentially serious Axios stent recall
(00:15:00) - #1 - Medtronic to invest up to $90M in Anteris Technologies
(00:21:20) - FOMO - Advancing Test & Measurement Strategies in MedTech Manufacturing with Javier Olea of Averna
(00:32:50) - Keynote Interview: Carl St. Bernard, CEO, Jupiter Endovascular