Masimo’s planned buyout of Lidco could help expand its footprint into the US.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Elsevier Business Intelligence’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Dealmaking column is a survey of recent health care transactions listed by relevant industry segment – In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals – and then categorized by type – Acquisition, Alliance, or Financing.

Brief summaries of recent medtech market and industry developments. This month we cover China’s switch to a centralized billing system, St. Jude Medical’s RESPECT PFO closure trial, FDA’s approval of HeartWare’s LVAD, and end-of-the-year medtech M&A.

Edwards Lifesciences announced that it was acquiring private Dutch company BMEYE BV, the developer of a new noninvasive technology for hemodynamic monitoring. Noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring has long been “The Holy Grail” in critical care, and non-invasive technology opens up new applications and new markets for Edwards as well.