Opioid Crisis a Boon for Pain-Device Manufacturers

The opioid crisis may be giving a boost to developers of medical devices intended to treat pain — gadgets that are being described in the workers’ comp industry with phrases ranging from “worth a try” to “snake oil.” And the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stepped into the action with an "Inovation Challenge" for developers of devices aimed at preventing or treating opioid abuse. Announced in May, the FDA hopes the challenge will spur the development of medical devices, including digital health technologies, that could provide nov...