Vendors

CHELMSFORD, Mass., and CAESAREA, Israel – ZOLL Medical Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding ordinary shares of Itamar Medical for about $538 million.  Itamar Medical is focused on the development and commercialization of non-invasive medical devices and solutions to aid in the diagnosis of respiratory disorders, including the WatchPAT Home Sleep Apnea Device.  “It is currently estimated that 60% of cardiovascular patients suffer from some...

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. – Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare has decided that, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain constraints, it’s all hands on deck for its oxygen products and that means discontinuing its CPAP products.  The company announced in early September that it will discontinue its DV5 and DV6 series of CPAP devices in December – even as a Philips recall has put a premium on those devices – to better manage raw material shortages and better meet increased...

LYON, France – Using PAP therapy can significantly increase sleep apnea patients’ chances of living longer, according to an abstract presented this week at the virtual European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2021 and supported by ResMed.  The landmark ALASKA study, “CPAP Termination and All-Cause Mortality: a French Nationwide Database Analysis,” concluded people with obstructive sleep apnea who continued PAP therapy were 39% more likely to survive...

DEERFIELD, Ill., and CHICAGO – Baxter International announced on Sept. 2 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to buy Hillrom for $156 per share in cash for a total equity value of $10.5 billion and a total enterprise value of about $12.4 billion, including the assumption of debt.  Baxter says the acquisition brings a highly complementary product portfolio and innovation pipeline that will enable the company to provide a broader array of medical products and services to patients...

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. – Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare will discontinue its DV5 and DV6 series of CPAP devices as of December 2021, citing raw material shortages, difficulty securing needed parts and increased component pricing.  The company will continue to focus on its oxygen products in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  “Over the last two years, Drive DeVilbiss has been a major supplier of critical oxygen products during the largest respiratory pandemic in history,”...

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands – Royal Philips has received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin replacing the sound abatement foam with new material in certain sleep and respiratory care devices starting this month.  The company has also started replacing certain affected first-generation DreamStation CPAP devices in the U.S. with DreamStation 2 CPAP devices, which aren’t affected by the recall.  “We fully recognize...

MINNEAPOLIS – rtNOW now offers tele-respiratory services specifically for CPAP setup and adherence, and ventilator follow up.  The company works with HME providers to determine the best “insertion point” for these services, whether it’s at the front end when the order comes through or at the back end when patients already have their equipment, says Curt Merriman, chief sales officer and an RT.  “We don’t want HME providers to replace the current...

ELYRIA, Ohio – Invacare informed its provider customers in a letter last week that it will be implementing surcharges on a select group of products effective Aug. 30 to help defray increasing freight rates.  On Oct. 11, the company will also be implementing a 10% price increase on select bed and manual wheelchair spare parts.  “Like all manufacturers around the globe, we have experienced numerous challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,” wrote Joost Beltman,...

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Sleep8 is leaning on a new president and a new partnership with VGM & Associates to differentiate itself in a market that’s come under scrutiny due to a recent recall of certain Philips CPAP devices.  The company, under the leadership of President Jeff Hingher, posted a blog to its website in July emphasizing that, while its CPAP cleaning system uses ozone, it only cleans the mask, tubing and water chamber – not the CPAP device.  “I’d...

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Fisher & Paykel Healthcare reported revenue of $583 million for the first four months of its financial year 2022.   Seventy-four percent of that revenue came from F&P’s hospital group during the four-month time period, which ended July 31. Constant currency revenue was 3% below the prior comparable period. This consisted of a 13% decline in hardware sales, partially offset by 2% growth in consumables.   The company’s hospital consumables sales...