Noteworthy news from medtech start-ups. This month we profile Clear Catheter Systems, which is developing active technology for clearing chest tubes, Kemeta, whose sensor measures the rate of fat burn, and Aardvark Medical, which is developing home-use technology for nasal irrigation and aspiration.

The dealmaking column is a survey of recent transactions, including strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, and financings, in the life sciences industries. Deals are listed by the following industry sectors: in vitro diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and research/analytical instrumentation and reagents. All transactions are excerpted from Windhover's Strategic Transactions database, providing comprehensive transaction coverage from 1991 to the present.

New spine company Globus raises $110 million from Clarus Ventures; Medco Health Solutions acquires PolyMedica Corp. for $1.5 billion; Olympus' long-awaited capsule endoscope receives US regulatory clearance; Concentric Medical launches another iteration of its Merci Retriever for ischemic stroke.

A roundup of recent medtech strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions and financings.