DeviceTalks Podcast Network

In the final episode of AbbottTalks season 3, hosts Tom Salemi and Kayleen Brown sit down with Rebecca Wilkins, divisional vice president of R&D for Abbott’s Neuromodulation business, to discuss the technologies Abbott is advancing for chronic pain and movement disorders.

Wilkins explains how Abbott’s spinal cord stimulation platforms, Proclaim™ DRG Neurostimulation System, and Infinity™ deep brain stimulation system are designed to interrupt errant nervous system signals, helping patients manage conditions ranging from chronic pain and Parkinson’s disease to, potentially, treatment-resistant depression.

The conversation also highlights the features shaping Abbott’s neuromodulation portfolio, including Bluetooth-enabled connectivity, the NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic for remote programming, improved MRI compatibility including prone MRI access, and device options that balance small size with low recharge demands.

Wilkins also shares new data presented at NANS showing significant reductions in pain-related healthcare encounters for patients using Abbott’s spinal cord stimulation and DRG therapies.

This episode is brought to you by Confluent Medical Technologies. To learn more about Confluent, visit: https://confluentmedical.com/. Make sure to catch Confluent's March DeviceTalks Tuesdays webinar highlighting its new technology, Filmcast Select™: https://gateway.on24.com/wcc/experience/elitewtwhmedia/2927718/4415884/devicetalks-tuesdays

***

Enjoy this podcast? Follow AbbottTalks on all major podcast players: https://abbotttalks.castos.com/ Subscribe + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

Want access to the complete DeviceTalks Podcast Network (DTPN)? Follow us today at https://devicetalks.castos.com/subscribe

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Intro: Reflecting on Season 3
(00:05:22) - (Part 1) Interview with Confluent Medical's Brittany Mai
(00:07:56) - Keynote Interview: Rebecca Wilkins, DVP of R&D at Abbott’s neuromodulation business
(00:13:57) - A Personal Connection: How DBS Impacted a Family
(00:16:21) - Innovation in Connectivity: Bluetooth and NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic
(00:21:37) - (Part 2) Interview with Confluent Medical's Brittany Mai
(00:24:42) - Targeted Therapy: Understanding Spinal Cord and DRG Stimulation
(00:32:37) - Breaking Barriers: MRI Compatibility and Device Longevity
(00:36:04) - New Data from NANS: Validating Patient Outcomes

In this episode of DeviceTalks Weekly, Medtronic’s Blake Tatum, Vice President of U.S. Commercial for Acute Care & Monitoring, joins Host Tom Salemi to unpack the evolving patient monitoring landscape. Tatum shares how Medtronic is integrating sensors, data, and digital health to support clinicians from the ICU to the home, why partnerships are reshaping the competitive playbook, and how lessons from the pandemic are driving a new focus on accuracy, equity, and connectivity in care delivery.

This episode is sponsored by DeviceTalks Minnesota. Go to Minnesota.Devicetalks.com to check out the amazing agenda!

Then Salemi and MassDevice editor Chris Newmarker review this week’s MedTech newsmakers including surgical robotics, Abbott, Stryker, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic.

***

Enjoy the show? Follow DeviceTalks Weekly on all major podcast players + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

Want access to the complete DeviceTalks Podcast Network (DTPN)? Follow us today at https://devicetalks.castos.com/subscribe

Chapters

(00:05:15) - 10 surgical robotics companies you need to know (Go to MassDevice.com to download the report)
(00:08:09) - Abbott completes Exact Sciences acquisition
(00:09:37) - Stryker reportedly brings most services affected by cyberattack back online
(00:11:20) - Boston Scientific has reportedly had pacemaker battery problems for years
(00:14:01) - Round up of Medtronic News
(00:21:30) - Keynote interview with Medtronic’s Blake Tatum

In this episode of DeviceTalks Weekly, Distalmotion CEO Greg Roche updates Host Tom Salemi on the surgical robotics company’s commercial roll out of Dexter, a robotic system designed for ambulatory surgery centers. Roche shares the lessons he’s learned after a decade in surgical robotics and why he’s particularly optimistic about his company’s outcome.

You can hear Greg Roche’s first appearance on the podcast right here: https://www.devicetalks.com/why-distalmotions-roche-sees-dexters-small-size-as-big-advantage-in-the-robotics-surgical-market/ 

This episode is sponsored by DeviceTalks Boston. Register at Boston.DeviceTalks.com. Use the code DTW25 to save 25% off the registration price.

Rachel Robinson, COO of MassMEDIC, joins the MassDevice Newmarker’s Newsmakers with Salemi and Editor Chris Newmarker – Stryker, CMR Surgical, Revolve Surgical, JenaValve, and MassDevice’s Surgical Robotics Special Report for 2026. You can download the report with 70+ profiles of surgical robotics companies here - https://www.massdevice.com/surgical-robotics-special-report-2026/

Robinson also welcomes listeners to attend MassMEDIC’s Symposium & Gala on April 2. Go to MassMEDIC.com to see the agenda and to register.

***

Enjoy the show? Follow DeviceTalks Weekly on all major podcast players + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

Want access to the complete DeviceTalks Podcast Network (DTPN)? Follow us today at https://devicetalks.castos.com/subscribe

Chapters

(00:04:15) - MassMEDIC COO Rachel Robinson discusses the Medtech Impact Symposium & Gala
(00:10:05) - MassDevice’s Surgical Robotics Special Report for 2026
(00:11:58) - Stryker CEO Kevin Lobo joins GE HealthCare board of directors
(00:14:35) - CMR Surgical, Nvidia collab to train next-gen surgical robots
(00:18:02) - Revolve Surgical wins FDA clearance for surgical robot
(00:21:00) - JenaValve wins FDA nod for Trilogy heart valve system
(00:25:45) - Keynote Interview – Greg Roche, CEO, Distalmotion

In this episode of the DeviceTalks Weekly podcast, Stephen From, the new CEO of Vicarious Surgical, explains why he jumped the chasm from biotech to lead surgical robotics company Vicarious Surgical. From brings years of experience bringing products to market and he lays out the plan for Vicarious’s single-incision robot to Host Tom Salemi.

Next, Salemi interviews Bill Frey, Regional Sales Engineer, Harmonic Drive, about the unique challenges of surgical robotics. For more information about Harmonic Drive, go to www.harmonicdrive.net.

But we’ll start off with Salemi and MassDevice Editor Chris Newmarker discussing this week’s Newmarker’s Newsmakers – Petal Surgical, Abbott, Stryker, and Medtronic.

***

Enjoy the show? Follow DeviceTalks Weekly on all major podcast players + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

Want access to the complete DeviceTalks Podcast Network (DTPN)? Follow us today at https://devicetalks.castos.com/subscribe

Chapters

(00:02:50) - Chris and Tom talk turkeys
(00:06:20) - Incisionless surgical robot developer Petal Surgical adds more funding, Fred Moll joins board
(00:09:50) - Abbott completes $20B offering for Exact Sciences buy
(00:12:02) - Stryker launches SmartHospital platform to elevate care delivery
(00:15:00) - Stryker reportedly hit with Iran-backed cyberattack
(00:16:41) - Medtronic makes neurovascular play with $550M Scientia Vascular buy
(00:18:55) - FOMO - Bill Frey, Regional Sales Engineer, Harmonic Drive
(00:30:05) - Keynote Conversation, Stephen From, CEO, Vicarious Surgical

In this episode of the DeviceTalks Weekly podcast, Jessica Mathieson, president of Stryker’s medical business, takes Host Tom Salemi to the frontlines of healthcare, where hospitals are seeking support for healthcare professionals. Mathieson will explain how the acquisitions of Vocera and Care AI have enabled Stryker to build a comprehensive communications and monitoring tool that can keep nurses safe while improving patient care.

Find Mathieson’s first visit to DeviceTalks here: https://www.stryker.com/us/en/about/news/2022/acute-care-s-mathieson-explains-how-vocera-fits-into-stryker-s-g.html

And as an added bonus, on Monday, March 9th, Stryker announced that it launched its new SmartHospital platform. Learn more here: https://www.massdevice.com/stryker-launches-smarthospital-platform-care-delivery/

In this week’s FOMO, Ignacio Pedrosa, Advanced Solutions Engineer at Novanta, talks with Kayleen Brown about the company’s work to make surgical robotic systems smaller, smarter and more capable. For more information, go to https://novanta.com.

In this week’s Newmarker’s Newsmakers, MassDevice Editor Chris Newmarker and Salemi talk about their favorite flavor of Girl Scout cookie. (Buy yours in the link below) before talking about the top stories of the week – Smith & Nephew, Science Corp., Boston Scientific, Medtronic and, in a bit of Meta-ness – an article about Jenny Barba’s appearance on the podcast two weeks ago!

Go here to buy cookies from Chris’s daughter! - https://digitalcookie.girlscouts.org/scout/stella590572

***
Enjoy the show? Follow DeviceTalks Weekly on all major podcast players + Follow us on YouTube.com/@DeviceTalks to ensure you never miss an episode.

Want access to the complete DeviceTalks Podcast Network (DTPN)? Follow us today at https://devicetalks.castos.com/subscribe 

Chapters

(00:05:42) - Smith+Nephew posts Q4 sales beat amid overall strategy shift
(00:07:39) - 3 tips for first-time medtech entrepreneurs from a venture capital pro
(00:09:51) - Science Corp. closes $230M Series C to support BCI tech
(00:13:27) - Boston Scientific wins expanded CE mark for Farapulse in persistent AFib
(00:17:01) - Medtronic, GE HealthCare expand strategic alliance