A snapshot of global medical device and diagnostics approvals recorded during the past week in Medtech Insight's Approvals Tracker.

The 2018 Leipzig Interventional Course (LINC), Jan. 30-Feb. 2, featured presentations of data from trials of peripheral stents from Biotronik and Veryan, TVA Medical's arteriovenous fistula, and drug-coated balloons from Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Spectranetics.

The most desirable form of vascular access for most hemodialysis patients is an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Flow Forward believes it can expand the AVF prevalence rate to 90% with its Arteriovenous Fistula Eligibility (AFE) System, a temporary external blood pump that rapidly dilates peripheral veins prior to AVF surgery.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Informa’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Venture Funding Deals column provides a comprehensive monthly review of emerging life science companies that have received venture funding, including companies within the In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals sectors. This month’s column covers deals announced September through October 2015.