Top Device Companies

Medtronic Study Shows Long-Term Benefit Of Epileptics Brain Stimulator

Medtronic says its brain stimulator has shown in a long-term study to lead to fewer seizure episodes for epileptics. The company, which funded the study, said the brain-stimulation device is under review by the FDA, which is expected to clear it by the middle of next year. If approved, the Medtronic system would become a competitor to a Cyberonics device. (Click here for more – a subscription may be required)

“Medtronic Study: Device Helps Epilepsy Patients Over Time” – Wall Street Journal (Dow Jones) (12/7/09)

Hot Off the Presses: Medical Device Market 2009: Interventional Cardiology - This 86-page Special Report from IN VIVO identifies the most important trends in cardiology devices in recent years, teases out the critical decisions that drove those developments, and takes you behind the scenes and into the minds of the architects of these new technologies and business strategies. Find out more...

Biomedical Structures Typical Of Biotechs Lacking Qualified Workers

Biomedical Structures is representative of bioscience companies unable to fill many of their job positions despite a period of high unemployment. President John Gray said Biomedical can train some of its workers, but the maker of implantable textile-based devices requires relatively rare qualities for many of its jobs. Gray said only one in four applicants for jobs at Biomedical is suitable for the jobs the company has to offer. A recent survey in Biomedical’s home state of Rhode Island showed 56 percent of bioscience companies cited lack of skilled workers as a major staffing challenge. (Click here for more)

“Biotech Firms Still Lack Qualified Workers” – Providence Journal (11/30/09)

Hot Off the Presses: Medical Device Market 2009: Interventional Cardiology - This 86-page Special Report from IN VIVO identifies the most important trends in cardiology devices in recent years, teases out the critical decisions that drove those developments, and takes you behind the scenes and into the minds of the architects of these new technologies and business strategies. Find out more...

Medtronic’s Reclaim Implant Approved By FDA For Treating OCD

The FDA has cleared Medtronic’s Reclaim pacemaker-like device for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder in cases where the patient does not respond to other treatment. The affliction is caused by patients attempting to relieve anxiety and 2.2 million Americans are estimated to have it. The Medtronic device is implanted in the chest and sends electrical pulses to the brain to jolt it and relieve the anxiety. Medtronic also is studying the device as a treatment for severe depression, which is now treated by a controversial Cyberonics device. (Click here for more)

“FDA Approves Brain-Zapping Device To Relieve OCD” – Associated Press (2/19/09)

Get the week's top medical device news sent directly to you. Sign up for the FREE once-a-week email newsletter from Top Device Companies.com