Halyard Health (NYSE:HYH) said today it won FDA clearance for its Coolief cooled radiofrequency thermal system designed for treating moderate to severe chronic osteoarthritis knee pain The Alpharetta, Ga.-based company claims that the Coolief is the 1st and only RF treatment to be cleared by the FDA for relieving OA pain. “I see many patients who suffer with chronic […]
Neuromodulation/Neurostimulation
Study: BST’s closed-loop neuromod system reduces symptoms in PTSD sufferers
A new closed-loop algorithm-guided neurotechnology may be able to significantly improve symptoms for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a new study released this week. Data from the study of the HIRREM neurotech device, produced by Brain State Technologies, indicated that 89% of patients treated with reported significant reductions in symptoms of traumatic stress […]
Rubbery, implantable fibers used to study the spinal cord
New rubber-like fibers can match the flexibility of the spine as they deliver optical impulses to study spinal cord neurons, thanks to researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Scientists use implantable fibers to study the brain, giving them the opportunity to stimulate specific parts of the brain to monitor electrical responses. Before the rubber fibers, […]
Why ‘do no harm’ matters more than ever
A recent Retro Report in The New York Times looked back at the tragic history of lobotomies to remind viewers of the importance of the medical ethics principle, “First, do no harm,” and how it applies to the development of medical technologies for the brain today. The media positively covered lobotomies as a groundbreaking procedure able to cure mental […]
Boston Scientific joins $23m Series B for NeuroTronik
Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) has joined in on a $23.1 million Series B round for cardiovascular neuromod company NeuroTronik. The Durham, N.C.-based company said that BSX led the round and was joined by Hatteras Venture Partners, Synergy Life Science Partners, Lord Baltimore Investment Partners, Mountain Group Capital and Sovereign’s Capital. NeuroTronik is developing a novel neuromodulation device […]
Medtronic updates 2011 warning on Synchromed II implantable drug pumps
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) this month updated physicians on a warning it 1st issued in July 2011 about the batteries in its SynchroMed II implantable drug infusion pump. The pumps are used primarily to treat chronic pain or severe spinal or cerebral spasticity. The issue, 1st reported in July 2009, relates to the formation of a filmy substance within the […]
FDA clears ElectroCore’s GammaCore cluster headache treatment
Neuroscience tech developer ElectroCore said today it won FDA clearance for its GammaCore non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator designed to treat pain associated with episodic cluster headaches. The GammaCore device is designed to transmit a mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve through the skin to reduce pain, the Basking Ridge, N.J.-based company said. The device is […]
NeuroStar wins FDA nod for next-gen TMS device
NeuroStar said today it won FDA clearance for its next-gen NeuroStar advanced therapy transcranial magnetic stimulation device. The Malvern, Penn.-based company touted the device, which is designed to treat individuals with major depressive disorder, as the only FDA cleared TMS treatment which can be delivered in under 19 minutes. “As a practicing psychiatrist, I see firsthand the […]
Stimwave wins Australian regulatory nod for Freedom SCS
Stimwave Technologies said late last week it won approval from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration for its Freedom spinal cord stimulation system, and launched the device in the country. The Ft. Lauderdale-based company touts the Freedom SCS as the world’s 1st wireless, fully programmable neuromodulation device intended for treating chronic, intractable pain of the back or […]
Study: Deep brain stim shown to improve Tourettes symptoms
Deep brain stimulation procedures have been shown to reduce “tics,” or involuntary movements or outbursts, experienced by young adult individuals with Tourette’s syndrome, according to a new study. Results from the study were published last Friday in the Journal of Neurosurgery. Study researchers said the new data adds to a growing body which support DBS […]
AcelRx touts data from Dsuvia pain relief trials
AcelRx Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:ACRX) touted efficacy and safety data today for its pain reliever, Dsuvia. The company’s lead drug candidate is composed of 30 sufentanil tablets delivered sublingually using a disposable, pre-filled single-dose applicator. Dsuvia is investigational and not approved in any country. The 4 late-phase studies enrolled 480 patients total. In 2 randomized studies, enrolled patients underwent bunionectomy […]