Abbott Brings Rapid Testing to the Front Lines

Tthe new five-minute test is the second Abbott test to receive emergency use authorization by FDA for COVID-19 detection. Combined, Abbott expects to produce about 5 million tests a month. While developing new molecular tests normally takes years, Abbott's scientists worked around the clock to compress the timeframe down to weeks for the ID NOW COVID-19 test.

Boston Scientific Cuts Pay and Withdraws Revenue Guidance

Boston Scientific is "significantly reducing" the salaries of its CEO, board of directors, and executive committee members as part of its mitigation plan for managing the financial impact COVID-19. The company has also reduced weekly hours of employees where appropriate. The company also highlighted its efforts to help address the urgent demand for personal protection equipment and ventilators. For example, the company is working with the University of Minnesota Bakken Medical Device Center and industry collaborators to bring a ventilator alternative to market. The machine is intended to work as a one-armed robot to pump an Ambu bag, replacing the need for manual respiration in emergency settings.

Medtronic Shares Ventilator Design Amid Shortage Concerns

The move allows other companies to use the design specs of an older model of Medtronic's Puritan Bennett (PB) ventilators in the effort to combat the coronavirus. PB 560 product and service manuals, design requirement documents, manufacturing documents, and schematics are now available at Medtronic.com/openventilator.