Recognition. Some crave it, some shy away from it. But exactly who and what have risen to the top this year? Look below for a snapshot of the industry's top-earning CEOs and award-winning innovations for 2008.

Highest-paid CEOs in the device industry for 2008. Source: Forbes.

1. Marijn E. Dekkers, Thermo Fisher Scientific	2. Edward J. Ludwig Becton, Dickinson and Co.
3. Timothy M. Ring C. R. Bard	4. Daniel J. Starks St. Jude Medical
5. Robert L. Parkinson Jr. Baxter International

OR1

A robotic camera holder and a high-definition medical video system were among the most innovative products of the year, according to the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS).

Echelon Flex endopath stapler

The nonprofit group, which has an international membership of more than 6000 surgeons, chose eight products that it deemed innovative. SLS announced the recipients of the award, which it says is for informative use and not an endorsement, at its annual meeting in Chicago in September.

The 2008 Innovations of the Year

• EDGE

  Echelon Flex endopath stapler, Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc.
  

  
  

• True 1080p high-definition medical video system, Genicon Inc.
  

  
  

• OR1 timeout verification, Karl Storz Endoscopy America Inc.
  

  
  

• PlasmaJet, Plasma Surgical Inc.
  

  
  

• FreeHand robotic camera holder, P rosurgics Inc.
  

  
  

• EDGE (electronic data generation for evaluation), Simulab Corp.
  

  
  

• SDC Ultra, Stryker Endoscopy
  

  
  

• D-HELP

  D-HELP (defogging heated endoscopic lens protector), New Wave Surgical Corp.
  
  
  

  
  

Gold

• Acuson P10 handheld diagnostic ultrasound unit, Siemens Medical Solutions
  

  
  

• Akreos AO microincision lens, model MI60, Bausch & Lomb
  

  
  

• Amaris excimer laser, Schwind eye-tech-solutions GmbH & Co. KG
  

  
  

• E4D Dentist system, D4D Technologies LLC
  

  
  

• Fuze T50 Manual Tilt-in-Space wheelchair, PDG Product Design Group
  

  
  

• Genesis DM telehealth device, Honeywell HomMed
  

  
  

• HemCon bandage, HemCon Medical Technologies Inc.
  

  
  

• InteguSeal microbial sealant, Kimberly-Clark Health Care
  

  
  

• InTouch critical-care hospital bed, Stryker Medical
  

  
  

• Natural Nurser baby bottle, Adiri Inc.
  

  
  

• Panda iRes and Giraffe infant warmers, GE Healthcare
  

  
  

• Patient Registration Mask, Stryker Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG
  

  
  

• Plié microprocessor-controlled knee, Freedom Innovations
  

  
  

• QuickLink loader, C. R. Bard
  

  
  

• TotalCare Bariatric Plus therapy system, Hill-Rom
  

  
  

• Uresta continence care kit, EastMed Inc.
  

  
  

• Veramyst and Avamys (Fluticasone Furoate) nasal spray delivery device, GlaxoSmithKline R&D
  

  
  

• xCAT computed tomography scanner, Xoran Technologies Inc.

Silver

• Gee Whiz male external condom catheter, Leading Edge Innovations Inc.
  

  
  

• Hand Mentor Pro rehabilitation system, Kinetic Muscles Inc.
  

  
  

• Healthy Living ThinLine deluxe flat-screen blood pressure monitor, model BSD-3007, Health & Life
  

  
  

• MicroDose mammography system, Sectra Mamea AB
  

  
  

• NetGuard wireless electrocardiograph system, Datascope Corp.
  

  
  

• NovoFine Autocover automatic safety pen needle, Novo Nordisk A/S, Denmark
  

  
  

• Nuance full-field digital mammography unit, Planmed Oy
  

  
  

• Peak Fx hip plate, DePuy, a Johnson & Johnson Co.
  

  
  

• PowrSyringe injector, Pinyons Medical Technology Inc.
  

  
  

• RealHand

  RealHand high-dexterity instruments, Novare Surgical Systems Inc.
  

  
  

• REMstar Auto M Series continuous positive airway pressure system, Respironics Inc.
  

  
  

• The Single Tooth Anesthesia (STA) system, Milestone Scientific
  

  
  

• Tono-Pen

  Tono-Pen Avia applanation tonometer, Reichert Inc.
  

  
  

• Tube Rotator, Labnet
  

  
  

• XDS extravasation detector, Medrad Inc.