When it comes to the newest and most-advanced medical devices, Europe is getting them first, according to a study released Tuesday morning by a group of researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago. Researchers queried more than 350 professionals in the medical device industry to determine how a popular way of gaining Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for new products, called the 501k process, was working. The conclusion: It’s not. And as a result, the U.S. is falling behind other countries in medical technology advances, the study alleges.
