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.
Author Archives: David Prutchi
Brown University Develops Fully-Implantable Brain-Computer Interface
From Brown University’s press release:
“In a significant advance for brain-machine interfaces, engineers at Brown University have developed a novel wireless, broadband, rechargeable, fully implantable brain sensor that has performed well in animal models for more than a year. They describe the result in the Journal of Neural Engineering and at a conference this week.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — A team of neuroengineers based at Brown University has developed a fully implantable and rechargeable wireless brain sensor capable of relaying real-time broadband signals from up to 100 neurons in freely moving subjects. Several copies of the novel low-power device, described in the Journal of Neural Engineering, have been performing well in animal models for more than year, a first in the brain-computer interface field. Brain-computer interfaces could help people with severe paralysis control devices with their thoughts.
Retina Implant AG Publishes Study Results on its Alpha IMS Implant
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.
Second Sight Receives FDA Clearance for Argus II Retinal Prosthesis
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 Releases 2012 AIMD Sales Report: CRM Down 7%, Neuromodulation Up 9%
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 Introduces First Neuromodulation Systems Compatible with Full-Body MRI
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 Releases 2012 Year-End Results: CRM Down 6%, Neuromodulation Up 1%
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.