St. Jude Medical announced CE Mark approval of its Brio™, Libra™ and LibraXP™ deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems for managing the symptoms of intractable primary and secondary dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes a person’s muscles to contract and involuntarily spasm, reducing the ability to control movement. This approval represents the first by a regulatory agency for the use of deep brain stimulation to manage both primary and secondary dystonia.
I know that it’s April 1st, but this post is not an April Fool’s joke. Israeli company Vibrant Ltd. has developed a vibrating capsule that the Company claims to provide chemical-free and safe treatment for patients suffering from constipation. According to Vibrant:
“The capsules, mechanically operated, aid in treating constipated patients without side effects.
Constipation relief is achieved by the capsule’s vibrations on the large intestinal wall, consequently inducing natural peristaltic activity, generating spontaneous additional bowel movement.
Vibrant capsule is easy to swallow. The capsule is controlled through algorithms, predefined by Vibrant’s R&D and gastroenterologist.
The capsule is activated by a base unit that transfers the data of the predefined algorithm into the capsule, before swallowing it.
The capsule operates inside the large intestine and is washed out of the body with the bowel movement.”
Sorin announced it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conditional approval for its Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application and clinical trial protocol for RESPOND CRT. The trial will study the safety and effectiveness of the innovative SonR cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) optimization system in patients with advanced heart failure. RESPOND CRT is a multi-center, randomized, two-arm, double-blinded, prospective trial that will enroll more than 1,000 patients in the United States and other geographies.
The SonR optimization system is comprised of the SonR hemodynamic sensor embedded in the SonRtip atrial pacing lead and the PARADYM RF SonR CRT-D device, which includes a unique algorithm to automatically optimize the patient’s atrioventricular (AV) delay and interventricular (VV) delay timing. While there are several CRT systems on the market, studies have shown that approximately one-third of patients with advanced heart failure do not effectively respond to CRT. The SonR system is the first and only CRT hemodynamic sensor based system designed to automatically adjust on a weekly basis. The timing of electrical impulses delivered to the heart is based on the patient’s heart activity and need – with the goal of improving the patient’s response to CRT. Typically this device re-programming is done manually in the clinic using echocardiography.
Biotronik announced that it had received CE-approval for the world’s first DF4 ICD/CRT-D series approved for MRI. In addition, this series contains one of the world’s smallest ICDs– the Iforia single chamber ICD.
Aside from featuring ProMRI®technology, which allows patients to undergo potentially life saving MRI scans, Iforia also includes the industry standard DF4 connector system, which is designed to simplify and shorten the implantation procedure. The DF4 connector combines the traditional three connectors into one, allowing for a more convenient implantation procedure without compromising safety.
Click here for the press release.
The SYNERGY Circulatory Support System is a micro-blood pump that provides up to 4.25 liters of blood per minute and reduces the heart’s workload, while improving blood flow to vital organs. The system is surgically implanted using a mini-thoracotomy and the micro-pump is placed in a pacemaker-like pocket. The system’s less invasive procedure is intended to reduce the surgical risks associated with cardiopulmonary bypass support. In addition, SYNERGY is intended to reduce rehospitalizations associated with heart failure symptoms. SYNERGY is designed and manufactured in Aachen, Germany.
Retina Implant AG published study results on its Alpha IMS Implant for functional vision restoration. According to the press release, “Retina Implant AG, the leading developer of subretinal implants for patients blinded by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), announced results from part of its multicentre study were published today in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The research found that, during the course of a three to nine month observation period, functional vision was restored in the majority of nine German patients implanted with a subretinal microchip as part of the first module of the Company’s second human clinical trial. In addition, visual acuity for two of the nine patients surpassed the visual resolution of patients from the Company’s first human clinical trial.
On February 4, 2013, after more than 20 years of research and development, Second Sight Medical Products, Inc., announced that its Argus® II Retinal Prosthesis System (“Argus II”) has received U.S. market approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat individuals with late stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP). This announcement follows receipt of the European approval in 2011, and a unanimous recommendation by the FDA’s Ophthalmic Devices Advisory Panel in September 2012 that this revolutionary product be made available to treat this patient population in the U.S.
Boston Scientific reported Q4 2012 CRM sales of $457M versus $482M for Q4 2011, or a decline of 5% (4% on constant-currency basis). For the same period, neuromodulation sales grew by 14% from $91M to $104M.
Worldwide CRM sales for the full 2012 year were $1,908M compared to $2,087M for 2011, or a decline of 9% (7% on constant-currency basis). Neuromodulation sales grew by 9% for 2012 to $367M from $336 in 2011.
Medtronic has introduced in Europe the first and only implantable neurostimulation systems indicated for use in the treatment of chronic back and/or leg pain that are designed for full-body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans under specific conditions. Medtronic SureScan neurostimulation systems include enhancements to existing devices as well as specially designed leads to reduce or eliminate the hazards produced by the MRI environment. The devices also include a proprietary SureScan programming feature, which sets the device into an appropriate mode for the MRI environment.
St. Jude Medical today reported sales and net earnings for the fourth quarter and year ended December 29, 2012. According to the announcement:
“Total CRM sales, which include implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and pacemaker products, were $682 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, a 6 percent decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2011. After adjusting for the impact of foreign currency, total CRM sales decreased 5 percent. Total CRM product sales for the full-year 2012 were $2.854 billion, down approximately 6 percent from 2011. On a currency neutral basis, total CRM sales declined 3.5 percent from the prior year.
SetPoint Medical, headquartered in Valencia, California, is developing neuromodulation therapies for patients with inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), psoriasis, diabetes, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis. SetPoint’s proprietary neuromodulation platform consists of an implantable “microregulator”, wireless charger and iPad prescription pad application.
Toronto-based Functional Neuromodulation announced that it implanted the first U.S. Alzheimer’s patient in the “ADvance Study” with a deep brain stimulation (DBS) system meant to improve cognitive performance. ADvance will evaluate the safety and potential clinical benefit of DBS of the fornix (DBS-f), a major inflow and output pathway in the brain’s memory circuit, for patients with mild Alzheimer’s. The ADvance Study is being conducted using Medtronic Activa DBS IPGs.
While DBS has been an effective treatment for movement disorders for more than 15 years, it was only recently that this approach was first applied to Alzheimer’s. Dr. Andres Lozano, a neurosurgeon at University of Toronto and Scientific Founder of Functional Neuromodulation, originated the concept of treating memory disorders using deep brain stimulation (DBS) while treating a patient suffering from morbid obesity. In this patient, DBS stimulation of the hypothalamus and fornix was associated with an unexpected observed improvement in the patient’s memory.
Boston Scientific Received European Regulatory Approval For New Precision Spectra™ Spinal Cord Stimulator System. It is the first and so-far only SCS system with 32 contacts and 32 dedicated power sources designed to provide pain relief to a broad spectrum of chronic pain patients.
Image Credit: Boston Scientific
Boston Scientific has received CE Mark approval for increased longevity projections for the INCEPTA™, ENERGEN™, PUNCTUA™, COGNIS® and TELIGEN® implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds). The longevity projections are based on data submitted to the European authorities and vary for each device dependent on the model type and settings.
Projected device longevity exceeds 10 years for some models, approaches eight years for its CRT-D devices, and according to the press release is up to double that of comparable competitive device models. The company supports these devices with warranties of up to 10 years:
Warranties: INCEPTA and ENERGEN VR ICD: 10 years; INCEPTA and ENERGEN DR ICD: eight years; PUNCTUA and TELIGEN ICD: seven years; INCEPTA and ENERGEN CRT-D: six years; and PUNCTUA & COGNIS CRT-D: five years.
Today Boston Scientific reported its results for Q3 2012. For its AIMD divisions:
Cardiac Rhythm Management sales dropped from $503M in Q3 of 2011 to $462M for this year (-8%), a 6% decrease on constant-currency basis.
Neuromodulation sales grew by 5% from $84M to $88M.