Innovation, influence and business in America's medical cities.

Cardiac Concepts Inc. has raised $27.2 million from the sale of equity. The company, based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is developing a pacemaker-like device that uses electricity to treat sleeping disorders.

What weak economy?UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) Tuesday boosted its annual profit forecast, thanks to a strong revenue growth across all of its businesses in the second quarter.The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based company, the nation’s largest private health insurer, said it now expects to earn $3.40 to $3.60 a share on revenue of $93 billion compared to [...]

In the not-too-distant-future, Dr. Jim Woodburn says, patients can reach their doctors on the phone.If that doesn’t sound too impressive, consider this: The doctor can literally see the patient, access medical histories, listen to heartbeats and check the eyes, ears, nose and throat — all from the other side of the country.“Telemedicine is going to [...]

Impres Medical Inc. has raised $3 million from the sale of convertible debt and stock options, according to documents recently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.The startup, based in Minnetonka, Minn., is developing an implantable device to stop severe cramping (dysmenorrhea) and heavy bleeding (menorrhagia) in women by “deactivating” the endometrium, the inner layer [...]

Venture capitalists may be stingy these days but it seems what little money they’re willing to spend is going toward Anulex Technologies Inc. in Minnetonka, Minn.The company said Thursday that it raised $18 million in a Series E financing round. And Anulex still plans to raise at least $2 million more, said CFO David Noel.That [...]

Fresh off the launch of a next-generation version of its spinal-tissue repair device, Anulex Technologies has raised $3.8 million, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.The funding comes in the form of debt and options, and was raised from 11 investors.Last month, Anulex began marketing a new version of its Xclose tissue-repair device, whichuses [...]

Someday, in the not-so-distant future, EnteroMedics Inc. officials might look back at late 2009 and laugh. Or cry.That ultimately depends on whether the Food and Drug Administration ultimately approves or rejects the company’s groundbreaking Maestro device. Approval means enormous financial success, the only implantable neurostimulation device in the United States designed to treat obesity. Rejection [...]

Here are some news/notes on a day in MedCity, Minnesota:Uroplasty Inc.’s stock price jumped 4.6 percent Tuesday after the company announced positive results from study of its incontinence treatment, according to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal. The movement comes after the Minnetonka-based medical device developer reported favorable results from a large study to be published [...]

Here are some news/notes from a day in MedCity, Minnesota:Mayo Clinic said Thursday that it returned to profitability in 2009, thanks mostly to large investment gains and expense control.The organization reported income of $333 million, a 4.4 percent operating margin, after breaking even in 2008. Mayo generated $7.6 billion, a 5 percent gain from 2008. [...]

Ground was supposed to have been broken in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to Tower Investments. Now, after delays and increasing skepticism from the public, John Pierce, senior vice president at Tower Investments LLC, said that plans have changed.