Boston Scientific receives safety approval for deep brain stimulation product

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 22 December 2017

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Medical manufacturer Boston Scientific has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the Vercise Deep Brain Stimulation System, a device engineered to customise therapy for people living with Parkinson’s.

The approval was based on the INTREPID study, a test that evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the system on 292 people with Parkinson’s.

The first commercial implant is scheduled to take place at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, US, by a team of faculty professionals.

Dr Jerrold Vitek, professor of neurology at the University of Minnesota, said: “The Vercise Deep Brain Stimulation System changes the landscape of what physicians can do to help improve the quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

“This system provides an ability to sculpt the current field in the deep brain stimulation target using novel technology that offers flexibility in programming.”

Last Month

Next Month

Go Back

Share this story

Comments

https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/134569387 Lisa Vanderburg

At last – this will be so welcome particularly in the US where inferior devices and programming deficiencies have monopolized the market for way too long. Very happy to see this!
Rasha ElKholy

How much it costs?

Global update

How the world is commemorating Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Parkinson’s Awareness Month 2016 round-up

High-profile MEP supports European inventory research initiative

EPDA launches new My PD Journey research project

VIDEO: “Children shouldn’t feel isolated or hopeless because a parent has Parkinson’s”

New educational film to support families dealing with Parkinson’s

Can awakening dormant neurons reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms?

Reawakening dormant neurons could help reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms, researchers in South Korea have found. While Parkinson’s is typically believed to be caused by neuronal death, a new study – published in ‘Current Biology’ journal – suggests that dormant neurons could be another cause. After completing an animal test – which treated the subjects with two compounds that block dopamine-producing neurons from becoming dormant – the researchers found these neurons to be “awakened”, allowing them to resume dopamine production. The researchers hope that this will lead to a disease-modifying treatment, especially for people in the early stages of Parkinson’s. Hoon Ryu, a senior author of the study and researcher at KIST Brain Science Institute, South Korea, said: “This research refutes the common belief that there is no disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson’s due to its basis on neuronal cell death.”

Parkinson’s could be present from birth, study finds

Parkinson’s may be present from birth in younger people with the condition, new research has found. The study – conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, US, and published in ‘Nature Medicine’ journal – used induced stem cells from people with young-onset Parkinson’s, to grow dopamine-producing neurons and observe them for early warning signs of the condition. An abnormal pile-up of protein was found during the neurons’ development, including alpha-synuclein; which occurs in Parkinson’s. The scientists conjecture that Parkinson’s symptoms appear when the pile-up continues over 20 or 30 years. The team also found that the drug PEP005 – currently used against skin precancers – could help treat the condition. Michele Tagliati, vice chair and professor at Cedars-Sinai’s Department of Neurology and the study’s co-author, said: “This exciting new research provides hope that one day we may be able to detect and take early action to prevent this disease in at-risk individuals.”…

Testing saliva can help diagnose Parkinson’s, study finds

A saliva test carried out by doctors may be able to both diagnose Parkinson’s and detect the severity of the condition, according to a recent study published in medical journal ‘Neurological Sciences’. Several indicators of the development of Parkinson’s, including problems in the production of energy, can be easily detected in saliva. As part of the study, carried out by a team from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, saliva samples were collected from 76 patients living with Parkinson’s, and 37 participants with good general health. They found that the saliva of those with Parkinson’s reflected evidence of alteration in neurotransmitters – chemical messengers that allow nerve cells to communicate. The researchers said the test “may highlight the characteristic changes in metabolite levels during the onset of Parkinson’s”.

All fields required

First name*
Last name*
Email address*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Country of residence*
About me*
- I have Parkinson's disease
- I am a partner / carer / family / friend of someone who has Parkinson's
- I am a healthcare professional with an interest in Parkinson's
- I work for a Parkinson's disease organisation
- Other
CAPTCHA
*
- By proceeding you agree to our
Email
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Boston Scientific receives safety approval for deep brain stimulation product

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 22 December 2017

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Global update

How the world is commemorating Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Europe

High-profile MEP supports European inventory research initiative

Resources & Tools

VIDEO: “Children shouldn’t feel isolated or hopeless because a parent has Parkinson’s”

Can awakening dormant neurons reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms?

Parkinson’s could be present from birth, study finds

Testing saliva can help diagnose Parkinson’s, study finds

{title}

Subscribe

Boston Scientific receives safety approval for deep brain stimulation product

News

Author: Parkinson's Life editorsPublished: 22 December 2017

Prep: Cook: Serves:

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Global update

How the world is commemorating Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Europe

High-profile MEP supports European inventory research initiative

Resources & Tools

VIDEO: “Children shouldn’t feel isolated or hopeless because a parent has Parkinson’s”

Can awakening dormant neurons reverse Parkinson’s motor symptoms?

Parkinson’s could be present from birth, study finds

Testing saliva can help diagnose Parkinson’s, study finds

{title}

Subscribe

Sign in