Robotic surgery systems represent one of the fastest growing segments of the overall endoscopic surgery products market. These technologies allow surgeons to perform complex microsurgical tasks with greater precision and smaller incisions, thereby improving cosmesis, reducing postoperative pain, and shortening the length of hospital stay.

At this year's American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) meeting, held in San Diego in June, innovation was on display as researchers and device manufacturers showcased several new approaches and technologies for bariatric surgery.

Serving the aging US demographic is a golden opportunity for urology device companies. However, at this year's meeting of the American Urological Association, the field concentrated more on consolidation of older techniques than on breakthrough technologies.

The 56th Annual American College of Cardiology conference provided the expected clinical trial updates on a variety of interventional devices. But the most anticipated and surprising news of the meeting came from the COURAGE study, whose results broke against the tide of using interventional procedures and stents as primary therapy for stable coronary artery disease.