Medical device industry heavy-weight Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) entered a collaboration agreement with ARCA biopharma, providing continuous cardiac monitoring of patients undergoing experimental treatment with a genetically targeted cardiovascular drug therapy.
Research & Development
Cook Medical’s Zilver Vena venous self-expanding stent trial is a 1st for the U.S.
Indiana medical device giant Cook Medical announced the launch of a new clinical study, the 1st of its kind evaluating the safety and effectiveness of its Zilver Vena venous self-expanding stent.
The VIVO study will enroll select adult patients experiencing limiting leg pain, leg swelling or skin discoloration or a healed or active lower leg ulcer, according to a Cook statement.
Medtronic launches yet another back pain neurostim study
U.S. healthcare groups taking a closer look at medical implants
A quartet of U.S. healthcare groups are teaming up to take a closer look at the long-term effectiveness of medical implants, launching independent clinical studies in order to evaluate devices and their outcomes for patients, the group announced this week.
Symetis touts positive findings for its Acurate TA TAVI system
Swiss medical device maker Symetis released 30-day registry findings for its 2nd-generation transcatheter aortic valve implantation systems, touting high procedural success rates and minimal valve leakage.
Results from the SAVI postmarket registry highlighted findings from the 1st 250 patients implanted with Symetis’ Acurate TA TAVI system, which won European regulatory approval in September 2011.
BioControl Medical makes progress toward FDA review for CardioFit heart stim device
Israel and Minnesota-based BioControl Medical won FDA approval to proceed with the 3rd and largest phase of its INOVATE-HF trail, evaluating its CardioFit vagal nerve stimulation system in treatment of heart failure.
The global, multi-center trial aims to provide clinical data in support of BioControl’s premarket approval application for FDA clearance of the CardioFit system, according to a press release.
What’s missing in scientific journal articles on new innovations in medicine
Stanford engineers touts thin-as-hair endoscope
Stanford researchers developed a working prototype of an endoscope as thin as a human hair that they say "would be the ultimate minimally invasive imaging system."
The so-called "micro-endoscope" can produce images at a resolution 4 times higher than similar devices, and it could have important applications in healthcare.
Why Grey’s Anatomy is a bad place to promote device research
For medical students, residents, and attendings aspiring to develop a new medical device that is FDA approved for patient use, there are a few things you should remember:
Study: Experimental anorexia treatment with deep brain stimulation may provide lasting results
In what some are calling "a world 1st," researchers reported some success in treating severe anorexia patients via implanted electrodes that delivered electrical energy to the regions of the brain associated with emotion.
The study enrolled 6 patients to receive the experimental treatment, reporting that 3 of the 6 achieved weight gain and 4 of the 6 reported changes in mood, anxiety, control over their urges to binge and purge and other symptoms associated with anorexia.
Boston Scientific to present full safety results for Watchman heart implant
Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) officials changed their mind about an up-coming presentation of study results regarding the company’s Watchman stroke prevention implant, deciding to present the full safety results.