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📡 2026-09-14 — Where Medtech's Energy Is Going

Market-wide analysis: hot categories, cooling categories, new-entrant clusters, incumbent defensive moves, and distress signals. Independent of any specific product set.
Weekly Robotics Future Momentum: last 365d vs 1825d baseline Incumbent moves: last 90d New entrants: last 365d
Free edition · Published by Elephant Hawk — elephanthawk.com/tools
Hottest category (1y/5y ratio)
4.0×
LLL — see below
Codes attracting new entrants
15
top: 39 first-timers in QIH
Top-50 incumbent moves
85
66 reinforce · 19 expand · 39 active firms
Distress signals
0
acquisition candidates

🔥 Hot Categories — FDA Codes Accelerating

Top FDA product codes by velocity ratio (last 365d clearance rate ÷ last 1825d baseline rate). A ratio of 2.0× means the code is filing at twice its long-run pace right now. These are the codes the industry's R&D and capital are concentrating in.

RankCodeDeviceSpecialtyClass VelocityRecent (1y)Baseline (5y)Recent sponsors
1 LLL Extractable Antinuclear Antibody, Antigen And Control Immunology II 4.0× 4 5 3
2 — — — — 3.93× 11 14 11
3 DHB System, Test, Radioallergosorbent (Rast) Immunological Immunology II 3.0× 6 10 1
4 SDD Electromechanical Surgical System Wherein The Surgeon Annd The User Interface Can Be In The Sterile Field General, Plastic Surgery II 3.0× 3 5 1
5 FMZ Incubator, Neonatal General Hospital II 3.0× 3 5 2
6 SCR Air-Conduction Hearing Aid Software Ear, Nose, Throat II 3.0× 3 5 3
7 OLT Non-Normalizing Quantitative Electroencephalograph Software Neurology II 2.86× 4 7 4
8 IZQ Injector, Contrast Medium, Automatic Cardiovascular II 2.86× 4 7 3
9 KRH Ring, Annuloplasty Cardiovascular II 2.78× 5 9 3
10 GAM Suture, Absorbable, Synthetic, Polyglycolic Acid General, Plastic Surgery II 2.73× 6 11 4
11 OLR Oral Wound Dressing Unknown — 2.73× 6 11 6
12 GXN Plate, Cranioplasty, Preformed, Non-Alterable Neurology II 2.73× 6 11 6
13 MOF Guide, Wire, Catheter, Neurovasculature Cardiovascular II 2.5× 11 22 7
14 NEW Suture, Surgical, Absorbable, Polydioxanone General, Plastic Surgery II 2.5× 8 16 6
15 OLI Fat Reducing Low Level Laser General, Plastic Surgery II 2.5× 5 10 4

🚀 New-Entrant Clusters — Codes Attracting First-Time Filers

FDA product codes ranked by the number of sponsors who filed their FIRST 510(k) in that code during the last 365 days. High first-timer counts = new capital + new R&D entering the category. This is the leading edge of where the focus is going (lags the underlying R&D investment by ~12-24 months).

RankCodeDeviceSpecialty First-time filersSample firms
1 QIH Automated Radiological Image Processing Software Radiology 39 3DIEMME SRLAI Planning Logic, Inc.Agada Medical, Ltd.Ai4medimaging Medical Solutions S.A.Airs Medical, Inc.
2 LLZ System, Image Processing, Radiological Radiology 35 ADVAHEALTH SOLUTIONS, LLCAS Software, LLCAgfa Healthcare N.V.Apryse Software CorpArchy Dental, Inc.
3 GEX Powered Laser Surgical Instrument General, Plastic Surgery 25 Baoding Te'Anzhou Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.Beijing HuaCheng Taike Technology Co., Ltd.Bellamia Technologies, Inc.Boston Aesthetics, Inc.C.R. Bard, Inc.
4 ITI Wheelchair, Powered Physical Medicine 23 Beijing OrionStar Technology Co., Ltd.Foshan Sowell Medical Technology Co., Ltd.Hebei Dansong Medical Technology Co., Ltd.Jiangsu Intco Medical Products Co., Ltd.Jiangsu Yveelt Medical Equipment Co., Ltd.
5 GEI Electrosurgical, Cutting & Coagulation & Accessories General, Plastic Surgery 20 Acotec Scientific Co., Ltd.Ascblue CorporationAsterasys Co., Ltd.Aventix Medical, Inc.Baylis Medical Technologies, Inc.
6 OHS Light Based Over The Counter Wrinkle Reduction General, Plastic Surgery 20 Atop Lighting Co., Ltd.Dongguan Miqiang Technology Co., Ltd.Dongguan Yijiaming Technology Co., Ltd.Guangdong Ace-Tec Co., Ltd.Merchsource, LLC
7 GCJ Laparoscope, General & Plastic Surgery Gastroenterology, Urology 19 Ab Medica SasFloShield, Inc.Freyja Healthcare, LLCHangzhou Hawk Optical Electronic Instruments Co., Ltd.Integrated Endoscopy, Inc.
8 ODP Intervertebral Fusion Device With Bone Graft, Cervical Orthopedic 15 C.A. Medical, LLCDegen MedicalEffortmed, LLCFims Co., Ltd.HC Biologics, LLC
9 INI Vehicle, Motorized 3-Wheeled Physical Medicine 15 Dongguan Smarfody Mobility Technology Co., Ltd.Jiangsu Bangbang Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.Jiangsu Intco Medical Products Co., Ltd.Jochu Technology Co., Ltd.Lerado Zhongshan Peaceful Cove Business Trading Co., Ltd.
10 DYB Introducer, Catheter Cardiovascular 13 Cardiocycle Medical(Suzhou) Co., Ltd.Cultiv8 1, LLCEcho Medical, LLCHartman Medical Group, LLCHealth Line International Corporation
11 LRK Device, Anti-Snoring Dental 13 Aiomega, LLCDcstar, Inc.DnB Innovations, LLCDongguan Yiyao Science & Technology Development Co., Ltd.Endeavor Commerce, LLC
12 NKB Thoracolumbosacral Pedicle Screw System Orthopedic 13 Allumin8, Inc.Beijing Fule Science & Technology Development Co., Ltd.Box Spine, LLCChanpin Medtak Co., Ltd.Double Medical Technology, Inc.
13 OLO Orthopedic Stereotaxic Instrument Neurology 12 Balmoral Medical, LLCFoundation Surgical Group, Inc.K2m, Inc.Life Spine, Inc.Orthofix US, LLC
14 IOR Wheelchair, Mechanical Physical Medicine 12 Anhui Longway Medical Technology Co., Ltd.Empower Ride, LLCFoshan Nanhai Hongchen Medical Equipment Co., Ltd.Free Wheelchair MissionGuangDong Yong Yi Rehabilitation Equipment Technology Co., Ltd.
15 FRO Dressing, Wound, Drug Unknown 11 Beijing Kreate Medical Co., Ltd.Huizhou Foryou Medical Co., Ltd.InnovaCorium, Inc.Letus CorporationMerit Medical Systems, Inc.

🛡️ What the Top 50 US Medtech Incumbents Are Doing

Recent filings by the top-50 sponsors (by lifetime US 510(k) volume) in the last 90 days. REINFORCE = filed in a code they already own (label expansion, supplement, follow-on = moat-protection move). EXPAND = filed in a code where they had NO prior presence (strategic territory move). Ratio of reinforce vs. expand tells you whether the incumbents are playing defense or going on offense.

Defensive balance: 66 reinforce moves vs 19 expand moves · 78% reinforce · 22% expand · 39 of 50 incumbents active in window
DateFirmMoveCode ClassSpecialtyDevice
2026-08-28 Medtronic, Inc. reinforce MXD II Cardiovascular LINQ II Insertable Cardiac Monitor (ICM) (LNQ22)
2026-08-28 Paragon 28, Inc. expand HTY II Orthopedic Primal K-Wire (P99-193-1410)
2026-08-28 Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. reinforce OZN II Microbiology cobas® Cdiff Nucleic acid test for use on the cobas® Liat® System (074
2026-08-28 Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. expand PGX II Microbiology cobas Strep A Nucleic acid test for use on the cobas Liat System (0734
2026-08-27 Prismatik Dentalcraft, Inc. reinforce EBI II Dental Glidewell™ Denture Base Resin
2026-08-27 Riverpoint Medical reinforce MBI II Orthopedic Iconix Knotless T
2026-08-26 Boston Scientific Corporation reinforce FGB II Gastroenterology, Urology LithoVue Elite Digital Flexible Ureteroscope System
2026-08-26 SurGenTec, LLC reinforce FMF II General Hospital GraftGun Universal Graft Delivery System (GDS®)
2026-08-24 SurGenTec, LLC reinforce OUR II Orthopedic TiLink-L™ SI Joint Fusion System
2026-08-21 Boston Scientific reinforce DQK II Cardiovascular AVVIGO™+ Multi-Modality Guidance System
2026-08-21 Medtronic, Inc. reinforce DQK II Cardiovascular Affera Integrated Mapping System
2026-08-21 Dentsply Sirona reinforce QIH II Radiology DS Core CBCT Anatomy
2026-08-21 Inari Medical, Inc. reinforce QEW II Cardiovascular Artix™ MT;Artix™ Thin-Walled Sheath
2026-08-19 Roche Diagnostics reinforce SET II Immunology Elecsys Phospho-Tau (217P) Plasma
2026-08-13 GE Medical Systems reinforce LNH II Radiology AIR Recon DL
2026-08-12 Boston Scientific expand FTM II General, Plastic Surgery EluPro Antibiotic-Eluting BioEnvelope
2026-08-12 Masimo Corporation reinforce MWI II Cardiovascular Masimo Root Monitoring System
2026-08-12 Hologic, Inc. expand KNW II Gastroenterology, Urology Brevera Biopsy System with CorLumina Imaging Technology (BREVDISP09)
2026-08-12 TriMed, Inc. reinforce HWC II Orthopedic Large Compression Screws
2026-08-10 Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Inc. expand NIG II Immunology Atellica IM CA 19-9 II
2026-08-07 Arthrex, Inc. reinforce MAI II Orthopedic Arthrex Bioabsorbable PushLock Suture Anchors
2026-08-07 Intuitive Surgical, Inc. expand FDS II Gastroenterology, Urology Intuitive Endoluminal Gastrointestinal System (IG1000)
2026-08-07 GE Medical Systems Ultrasound and Primary care Diagnostics, LLC reinforce IYN II Radiology Venue Go
2026-08-06 Paragon 28, Inc. reinforce JDR II Orthopedic Megalodon Dynamic Compression System
2026-08-06 Howmedica Osteonics Corp. dba Stryker Orthopaedics reinforce KRO II Orthopedic Triathlon® Knee System; Triathlon® Hinge Knee System; Scorpio® Total K

❄️ Cooling Categories — FDA Codes Decelerating

FDA product codes where clearance velocity is FAR below long-run baseline. Two interpretations: (a) the category is dying / commoditized → vacated white space someone could re-enter cheaply, OR (b) the use case is being replaced by a different technology (e.g., glucose meters declining as CGM eats their share). Either way, useful intelligence.

RankCodeDeviceSpecialty VelocityRecent (1y)Baseline (5y)
1 LYY Latex Patient Examination Glove General Hospital 0.0× 0 23
2 LCX Kit, Test, Pregnancy, Hcg, Over The Counter Clinical Chemistry 0.0× 0 23
3 FLL Continuous Measurement Thermometer General Hospital 0.14× 2 73
4 LZA Polymer Patient Examination Glove General Hospital 0.19× 13 339
5 JDR Staple, Fixation, Bone Orthopedic 0.23× 1 22
6 ONF Powered Light Based Non-Laser Surgical Instrument With Thermal Effect General, Plastic Surgery 0.23× 1 22
7 FXX Mask, Surgical General, Plastic Surgery 0.23× 9 196
8 MQB Solid State X-Ray Imager (Flat Panel/Digital Imager) Radiology 0.31× 4 64
9 JOJ Indicator, Physical/Chemical Sterilization Process General Hospital 0.32× 2 31
10 FRN Pump, Infusion General Hospital 0.33× 2 30
11 KGO Surgeon'S Gloves General, Plastic Surgery 0.33× 2 30
12 LON System, Test, Automated, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, Short Incubation Microbiology 0.34× 2 29
13 KNT Tubes, Gastrointestinal (And Accessories) Gastroenterology, Urology 0.34× 2 29
14 PGY Display, Diagnostic Radiology Radiology 0.35× 3 43
15 MQC Mouthguard, Prescription Unknown 0.37× 2 27

⚠️ New Distress Signals (Market-Wide)

Firms across all US medtech that recently tripped the distress signal: small US-cleared portfolio (≤8 clearances), Class I recall in window, dormant ≥730 days. Potential M&A targets via Hilco / Ocean Tomo / Heritage Global outreach.

No new distress signals in window. The standing watch order with Hilco / Ocean Tomo continues to monitor.

🔭 Robotics Future Lane Spotlight

Filtered view of the same window, restricted to 26 FDA codes in the Robotics Future code list. Shown because you ran the brief with --lane robotics. The market-analysis sections above are still the primary view; this is supplementary.

No events in Robotics Future lane during the window.

📡 External Signals — This Week

Leading-edge items from live external feeds; the warehouse sections above are the lagging FDA record (clearances reflect ~12-18 months of prior R&D + regulatory work).

Press Releases leads by ~12 months

AI Synthesis Layer leads by weekly

Coming next:

Clinical Trials (ClinicalTrials.gov)
New trial starts and registry updates — a strong leading indicator for where R&D money is being spent.
Trade Show Calendar + Target Attendee List
MD&M, RSNA, AAOS, AAOMS, ADA, ASCO, HIMSS, CES Health. Next-30-days view of firms exhibiting and what they're launching — real-time signal of where the booth budget is going.
Industry Trade Press + SEC EDGAR M&A
MedTech Dive, MassDevice, MedCity News, MD+DI editorial + SEC 8-K M&A filings. Concurrent and retrospective context.