Derived from Strategic Transactions, Elsevier Business Intelligence’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Medical Device Deals Update column is a survey of recent medtech M&A, alliance, and financing activity. This month’s column covers deals announced August-September 2013.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Elsevier Business Intelligence’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Recent Financings Of Private Companies 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 we profile CoolSpine and its catheter-based hypothermia device, Inseal Medical and its large-bore vascular closure device, and MitrAssist Medical, which is developing a valve-in-valve approach to treating mitral regurgitation.

Just as people improve their vision by wearing glasses or contact lenses instead of repairing or replacing their eyes, a mitral valve prosthesis from Israeli-based MitrAssist Medical Ltd. neither repairs nor replaces damaged mitral valves in the heart, but rather it augments and enhances native valve function. The company’s implant is placed on top of the native valve and anchored securely. This “valve-in-valve” approach is designed to prevent leakage and restore normal blood flow.