Vulnerable plaque caught investors' and entrepreneurs' attention several years ago as the mysterious cause of more than half of all cases of sudden cardiac death, most of which occurs in people with no history of heart disease. Several companies were launched and much money invested with little to show for it. One major problem: vulnerable plaque requires new tools both to diagnose and treat the condition, which proved to be bigger hurdles than most start-ups can overcome. Prescient was launched by an experienced device management team and is applying Raman spectroscopy, to coronary disease as the basis of its diagnostic tool, and is using a shield-not a stent-for its therapeutic device.

A roundup of recent medtech strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions and financings.