United States – October 17, 2026 -- Three-quarters of medical technology companies surveyed by AdvaMed report memory chip constraints, and 88 percent have seen price increases, as data-center demand squeezes supply of components used in 75 percent to 80 percent of medtech products (excluding personal protective equipment and consumables).

Survey shows allocation limits and procurement uncertainty across medtech

Beyond the 75 percent and 88 percent figures, 63 percent of respondents reported supplier allocation challenges or limited availability of specific components. Another 63 percent are uncertain they can procure enough memory chips, or products containing them, to avoid supply chain disruptions. Fifty-six percent said they are very concerned about overall memory chip supply chain stability.

Boston – October 17, 2026 -- AdvaMed will host The MedTech Conference October 18–21 in Boston, with programming across more than seven stages and over 20 focus areas and a keynote panel of three medtech chief executives.

Three medtech CEOs headline the featured keynote discussion

The featured session, "Pulse of Medtech: Where the Industry Is Going Next," brings together Mick Farrell of Resmed, Mike Mahoney of Boston Scientific and Ashley McEvoy of Insulet. John Babitt of EY will moderate.

Attendee list preview shows registrants across the value chain

AdvaMed has published the first 2026 Attendee List Preview. It includes CEOs, senior executives and professionals in business development, strategy, regulatory affairs, policy, investment and innovation. Registrants span leading global companies, emerging innovators, investors, service providers and other medtech ecosystem organizations.

United States – October 17, 2026 -- Nearly half of all heart attacks occur in patients classified as low risk under traditional factors such as age, cholesterol and family history, Elucid CEO Kelly Huang said in AdvaMed's "Insight Series: AI & Digital Health," arguing that AI must change clinical decisions rather than accelerate existing ones.

Elucid extracts plaque biology and blood-flow data from a single CT scan

Elucid's Plaque-IQ software analyzes an existing coronary CT angiogram to quantify plaque type and amount in coronary and carotid vessels. Its BioIntegrated FFR-CT predicts fractional flow reserve values along each vessel, using invasive FFR as ground truth. Plaque algorithms are validated against histology.

Huang said two patients can show identical plaque volume and similar stenosis yet carry different risk: one has lipid-rich, unstable plaque, the other calcified, stable plaque.

Boston – October 17, 2026 -- The MedTech Conference, running October 18–21 in Boston, will include 65 early- and mid-stage companies from the 2026 MedTech Innovator cohort, chosen from more than 1,800 applicants, alongside a program that makes digital health a core thread of the event, according to AdvaMed Digital Health Tech's new executive director.

Four policy areas drive the digital health agenda

AdvaMed Digital Health Tech's work spans regulation; payment and health care delivery; data access and stewardship; and cybersecurity. The executive director, whose background at AdvaMed is in coverage, payment and care delivery policy, said progress in each area depends on the other three.

Payment is a particular focus. AdvaMed is advocating for greater clarity and predictability around Medicare coverage and payment for software, AI and other digital health technologies.

Boston – October 17, 2026 -- AdvaMed is steering its more than 400 small and emerging medtech members toward The MedTech Conference, October 18–21 in Boston, where it expects over 4,000 attendees and 1,800 companies.

JC Scott, who has returned to the trade association as Chief Strategy Officer, also leads AdvaMed Accel as Executive Director. Accel is the association's dedicated division for emerging members, offering advocacy, access and community.

Partnering platform compresses investor outreach into days

Full Access attendees and Full Access exhibitors can use the Partnering platform to book one-on-one meetings with investors, collaborators, potential customers and strategic partners. Scott says conversations that might otherwise take months to arrange can happen over a few days. AdvaMed has published a 2026 investor list for preview.

Boston – October 17, 2026 -- The MedTech Conference (#MTC26) in Boston this October will host its first dedicated gathering for chief medical officers, open to CMOs at AdvaMed member companies, according to Bobby Patrick, AdvaMed's SVP of Government Affairs.

Patient Pavilion carries stories from 13 named medtech companies

The Patient Pavilion in the exhibit hall will anchor the patient programming throughout the week. Patients will share experiences with technologies from Abbott, BD, Dexcom, Edwards Lifesciences, Insulet, Medtronic, Philips, Resmed, Siemens Healthineers, Smith+Nephew, Stryker, Solventum, Vantive and other companies. Attendees can see Philips' portable MRI technology up close.

One featured story involves a patient named Brittany, whose severe sleep apnea diagnosis explained years of exhaustion. Treatment restored her energy, confidence and independence.

Boston – October 17, 2026 -- AdvaMed's The MedTech Conference, set for October 18–21, 2026, will host its largest Medtech Campus to date, with 185+ presenting companies and more than 500 speakers across Campus and education sessions. The trade body reports member participation at an all-time high and says nearly half of registered attendees are new to the event.

Keynote stage pairs device CEOs with a Wall Street analyst

Mick Farrell of Resmed, Mike Mahoney of Boston Scientific, Ashley McEvoy of Insulet and Robbie Marcus of J.P. Morgan will join a discussion moderated by John Babitt of EY. Johnson & Johnson MedTech and Operation Smile will add further perspectives.

United States – October 17, 2026 -- AdvaMed has told the U.S. Copyright Office that software built to diagnose, configure and service a medical device is a distinct product and should not be treated like the software that operates the device.

AdvaMed separates clinician-facing software from servicing tools

The trade group's comments contrast two categories. One is software clinicians use to operate an imaging system. The other is software designed specifically to diagnose, configure and service that system. AdvaMed compares the split to a vehicle's operating software versus the specialized diagnostic tools technicians use to repair it. In its framing, one enables use of the product, while the other is a standalone tool with its own functions, users, protections and market.

United States – October 17, 2026 -- The ITEM Coalition, a bloc of 103 national organizations, has named Medicare coverage of standing systems in Group 3 power wheelchairs its top priority heading into 2027, after waiting six years for CMS to open a National Coverage Analysis.

Medicare's coverage gap leaves beneficiaries paying out of pocket

Medicare does not cover standing systems for Group 3 power wheelchairs, according to ITEM Coalition co-coordinator Michael Barnett. Beneficiaries with significant mobility impairments either bear substantial out-of-pocket costs or go without the technology. The coalition has a National Coverage Determination reconsideration request pending and says CMS is "well past time" to act.

Virginia – October 17, 2026 -- VHHA Solutions, an affiliate of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, has named Andor Health's ThinkAndor® an endorsed platform for hospitals and care providers across Virginia, extending the AI-driven system beyond acute care into senior living and behavioral health.

Endorsement targets fragmented care technology

The partnership addresses health systems that run separate tools for virtual care, communication, monitoring and care coordination. ThinkAndor is designed to replace that patchwork with a single AI-powered infrastructure covering the path from the digital front door to post-acute follow-up.