[pascalchristian]

As a doctor and health-tech startup founder (although not based in the US), I can confirm that this reporting is bullshit.

First of all healthcare is a very conservative space. Unless your product demonstrate a truly significant progress, nobody will give an eye at you. The decision making progress is very slow and very conservative. So even without the big medical supply corp, Shaw might never had a chance anyway.

"And it seemed to be remarkably effective: a 2007 clinical study funded by Shaw’s company and conducted by the independent SGS Laboratories found the device prevented germs from being transferred to catheters nearly 100 percent of the time"

Cigarette companies have sponsored plenty of "independent" studies that shows that cigarettes are not detrimental and even healthy. So take that with a grain of salt.

"But Shaw still isn’t any closer to breaking into the hospital market, and in the meantime the life on his patents is dwindling."

Really? Patients losing their life over some IV caps?? IV caps are always going to be more prone to infection when compared to needles (since well, those caps are stuck in there for weeks while needles are disposable), but nurses are trained to look at sign of infections ASAP.

[narkee]

FYI, that last line says "patents", not "patients".