Microvention Inc., a three-year-old start-up, is developing minimally invasive devices for treating cerebral vascular conditions. Its is first focusing on developing a better devices for treating aneurysms. It has a hybrid device, combining coils with a sponge-like hydrogel material that fills the aneurysm, cutting it off from the blood vessel. This allows the blood vessel to heal and recover its full strength. The product is in pre-clinical trials.

Rather than start their own captive venture fund, Boston Scientific invested $20 million into The Spray Venture Fund, realizing that for a venture fund to work, the single goas has to be return on investment.

While the drug industry continued to shun acquisitions in favor of alliances, service and device companies see mergers as the only way to go. Can diagnostics, still stubbornly unconsolidated, be far behind?