DeviceTalks Podcast Network

In this episode of the DeviceTalks Women in MedTech podcast, Host Kayleen Brown sits down with Gaele Lalahy, Chief Operating Officer at Plexāā, to discuss what it looks like to treat patients as true co-designers, not only in product development but across the entire pre-surgery experience.

Lalahy shares the clinical foundation behind BLOOM⁴³, Plexāā’s wearable, at-home device used the night before breast surgery to increase blood flow and support healing through supraphysiological preconditioning, and explains how Plexāā pairs the device with a holistic app that helps patients feel prepared, informed, and supported before and after surgery.

Kayleen also welcomes Tom Salemi, Editorial Director of DeviceTalks, for an in-studio conversation that connects the episode’s theme to the broader MedTech ecosystem, including a look ahead at DeviceTalks Minnesota, May 4 and DeviceTalks Boston, May 27–28. Together, they discuss how listening to the end user shapes better outcomes, better experiences, and better leadership.

* Mentioned in the interview * Check out this DeviceTalks Weekly episode featuring Samay's CEO Maria Artunduaga: https://www.devicetalks.com/how-samays-ceo-came-up-with-the-sound-idea-for-a-device-to-battle-copd-win-medtech-innovator/

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Enjoy this podcast? Follow Women in MedTech with Kayleen Brown on all major podcast players: https://women-in-medtech.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

(00:00:08) - Intro to theme: patient as co‑designer
(00:03:38) - Interview with In-Studio guest, Tom Salemi
(00:04:29) - DeviceTalks Minnesota (May 4) & DeviceTalks Boston (May 27–28) preview
(00:14:17) - Keynote interview with Gaele Lalahy, COO, Plexāā
(00:15:59) - Gaele’s origin story: gymnast mindset, Panasonic, and “unlearning” into MedTech
(00:26:50) - Plexāā + BLOOM⁴³ explained: reducing complications with supraphysiological preconditioning
(00:39:55) - Leadership + allyship: building teams, saying yes, and mentor shout-outs

In this episode of the DeviceTalks Weekly Podcast, OrthAlign CEO Eric Timko explains how he’s built two successful companies in the wake of surgical robotics’ rise in orthopedics. He also shares sage advice from his father—words that ultimately led him to a career in medical devices.

This episode is sponsored by DeviceTalks Minnesota. Register at Minnesota.DeviceTalks.com and use the code DTW25 to save 25% off registration.

In this week’s Newmarker’s Newsmakers, Host Tom Salemi shares his experience from MedTech Innovator’s Radar Forum. Then he and Chris Newmarker review the biggest news on MassDevice: Stryker, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Intuitive, Baxter, and the Transcatheter Heart Valves Special Report.

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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

(00:02:30) - MedTech Innovator Radar Forum
(00:09:30) - MassDevice’s Transcatheter Heart Valves Special Report
(00:11:08) - Stryker operations fully restored after cyberattack
(00:14:55) - Johnson & Johnson brings next-gen Varipulse PFA catheter to Europe
(00:16:30) - Former Intuitive EVP Brian Miller joins Sovato as CEO
(00:21:18) - Former Baxter CEO takes the corner office at Hologic as go-private deal closes
(00:26:20) - Keynote interview: Eric Timko, CEO, OrthAlign

In this episode of the DeviceTalks Weekly podcast, Amaza Reitmeier shares with Host Tom Salemi why she left the company she never thought she’d leave — Medtronic — to lead Pharaoh Neuro, a company developing a novel approach to treating stroke patients by removing harmful blood from cerebrospinal fluid. Reitmeier shares lessons from her own career and her mentors on timing big moves, learning what you don’t know, and why some of MedTech’s biggest opportunities remain hidden in plain sight.

This episode is sponsored by DeviceTalks Minnesota. Register at Minnesota.DeviceTalks.com and use the code DTW25 to save 25% off the registration fee.

Salemi and MassDevice Editor Chris Newmarker offer encouragement to exercising listeners while delivering this week’s Newmarker’s Newsmakers — including updates on cardiology companies, HistoSonics, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson MedTech, Abbott, the Mayo Clinic, and WHOOP.

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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

(00:08:12) - The biggest cardiology tech stories out of ACC 2026
(00:11:45) - HistoSonics kicks off study using Edison histotripsy system in BPH
(00:14:20) - Boston Scientific completes Valencia Technologies acquisition
(00:16:00) - Johnson & Johnson MedTech shares findings for Impella CP in left ventricle support
(00:16:27) - Abbott joins $575M funding round for wearable maker WHOOP
(00:22:20) - Keynote Interview, Amaza Reitmeier, CEO, Pharaoh Neuro

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://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5241831/7E70E13249532E05CA8FB3D51421AD71?partnerref=confluent

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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.

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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