Neuro

Johnson & Johnson has just announced sales of $16.5 billion for the second quarter of 2012, a decrease of 0.7% as compared to the second quarter of 2011, albeit with a significant currency loss painting a gloomier picture than the top line figures suggest.

NeuroLogica has announced the integration of NeuroLogica’s portable BodyTom™ 32-slice CT scanner with Medtronic’s StealthStation® S7® surgical navigation system.

9 patient deaths are reportedly linked with catheter entrapment when delivering Covidien subsidiary ev3’sOnyx injectable embolic material into the brain. FDA has seen fit to warn users of the potential for this to occur.

MicroVention, Inc., has announced that enrollment has begun in the Hydrogel Endovascular Aneurysm Treatment (HEAT) clinical trial, a prospective randomised study of the use of coiling technologies to treat intracranial aneurysms.

Israeli company Brainsway Ltd. has received CE Mark for its Deep TMS system to treat neuropathic chronic pain (“neuropathic pain”). This indication adds to the treatments already CE marked, which include clinical depression among others.

A few days ago we covered the story of Claret Medical’s first-in-human study using its original CE Pro embolic capture device. At the time we felt there were a few unanswered questions, so went back to Claret for some more information. This after all is a very promising looking device with genuine patient welfare consequences.

Treatment of Refractory Epilepsy by Vagus Nerve Stimulation is to be made available in Europe as Neurotech’s unique rechargeable device gains CE mark approval.

Smart move for Cyberonics as it spots an opportunity to tap into Imricor’s MRI-compatible lead capability for its own neuromodulation products.

With effect from 1st June 2012, Tissuemed Ltd. and Medtronic Inc. have agreed that the medtech giant’s distribution of Tissuemed’s dural sealant film will revert back to Tissuemed. In a statement on its website Tissuemed states this is a commercial decision to enable it to actively control commercialisation of its core sealant product.

NICE, the healthcare guidance body, has today issued guidance supporting the use of Covidien’s Pipeline® device for the treatment of complex brain aneurysms.

Last week saw the holding of the European Stroke Conference in Lisbon, Portugal, at which event Stryker announced the results of the TREVO 2 clinical trial comparing its Trevo® clot removal device with its current Merci® product.

In the same week that the device giant Medtronic announced better than expected financial results including headline items like a 28% year-on- year quarterly earnings increase, it has also been revealed that the company is to shed around 1000 jobs.

Hydrogel sealants have a habit of clogging in their applicator nozzles, a problem Hyperbranch reckon they’ve solved with their newly CE marked Adherus™ Autospray device.

Millennium Research Group believes strong growth in Radioembolization Spheres, Drug-Eluting Beads and Flow-Diverting Devices will result in a 5.5% annual market growth rate through 2016.

The wonders of effective PR. Either that or RhinoChill® is taking off all on its own merits as this innovative portable brain cooling system receives coverage in all the right places. The concept of brain cooling for heart attack patients, taken right to the front line.

CareFusion continues its “simplify and focus” strategy with divestment of its Nicolet business to Natus Medical for a reported $58M.