Medical Devices

Drugmakers disclose their payments to doctors, dentists, even chiropractors. But spending on nurse practitioners and physician assistants is excluded. Legislation in the Senate would change that.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Essure for sale in 2002. But with health complaints on the rise from women using the device, the agency's expert panel now urges more study on complications.

Doctors say it's the first time a titanium sternum and set of ribs have been made with a 3-D printer. The custom-made device has already been implanted in the chest of a cancer patient in Spain.

Google made a name for itself with search technology, but it has dabbled in moonshot projects like self-driving cars. Now the company's life science unit is looking for better diabetes treatments.

They're both featured on a list of 30 innovations that could save millions of lives over the next 15 years.

Thousands of women say they've been harmed by the permanent contraceptive. But it's unclear whether the problems were caused by the device. The Food and Drug Administration is taking a closer look.

The latest data on drug and device company payments to health professionals largely exclude nurse practitioners and physician assistants, even though they play an increasing role in patient care.

The Living Heart Project aims to create a detailed simulation of the human heart that doctors and engineers can use to test experimental treatments and interventions.

In Iraq and Afghanistan, Army medics got really good at treating wounded troops. Scientists want to adapt these new technologies and tricks to help injured people in poor countries.

Medical technology can make patient care better and more precise. But the gadgets and computers can cause trouble, too. One big problem is that most of the devices often can't talk with one another.