1. Artificial pancreas from Johnson & Johnson's Animas

The first on-the-market artificial pancreas will be a big deal. Leading the way is Johnson & Johnson's ($JNJ) Animas unit, which is currently plotting a second feasibility trial for its investigational device. Animas' device combines continuous glucose monitoring with insulin delivery, but, novelly, is designed to mimic the body's natural method of regulating sugar levels. So, instead of just reacting to jumps and drops, it works symbiotically within the body, reading vital signs to predict the rise and fall of blood glucose levels and administering its insulin accordingly--much like an actual pancreas. And the device's first study demonstrated it could do just that, and safely. J&J is hardly the only contestant in the race to get an artificial pancreas on the market, but, as the company points out, it is the only one with a non-reactionary device in the pipeline, and, with continued trials planned, it could be the first to cash in on the next-gen platform.