Medtronic Inc.’s (NYSE:MDT) got the go-ahead to pursue trials of its Symplicity catheter system for treating hypertension via renal denervation.
The system includes a catheter inserted into the renal artery near each kidney via the femoral artery in the upper thigh. A generator on the tip of the catheter delivers lower-power radio-frequency energy to "deactivate" the sympathetic nerves, lowering blood pressure.
The device has received CE Mark approval for sale in Europe and Australia TGA listing, according to the release.
If successful, the therapy may also one day play a role in treating heart failure, insulin resistance and chronic kidney disease, diseases also characterized by a hyperactive sympathetic drive.
The device was developed by Ardian, which was acquired by Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic in January.
The TandemHeart circulatory support system won expanded reimbursement coverage by NHIC Corp., a Medicare administrative contractor serving over 1.3 million patients and more than 53,000 providers in the Northeast region of the U.S. The device involves a small centrifuge pump, a series of cannulae connecting the patient to the pump, and a controller. The system allows the heart to rest while providing blood flow to the body.
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Bloomington, Ind.-based Cook Medical Inc. announced that it won FDA pre-market approval for its Zenith Spiral-Z leg graft for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. The graft features enhanced flexibility and kink resistance as well as increased radial force at the sealing site.
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B. Braun Medical Inc. acquired a patent and two pending applications related to enhanced wireless communication between wireless medical devices and hospital information management systems.
"The addition of this patent further broadens our existing patent portfolio, which includes barcoding and wireless communication between IV pumps and hospital information management systems," said Gale White, VP of the infusion systems division. "This patent adds additional ownership rights protecting the B. Braun technology available to our infusion pump customers."
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