St. Jude Medical, Inc. has gained CE Mark approval for the world’s smallest and longest-lasting rechargeable deep brain stimulation (DBS) device for treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
A 67-year-old man has received the first implant of the Brio neurostimulator at the University Hospital of Cologne, Germany.
Slightly larger than a wristwatch, the Brio device has a thin (10mm) profile and weighs 29g. It has the greatest implant depth of any rechargeable DBS device. These features potentially improve patient comfort.
The Brio neurostimulator also has the longest battery life (10 years) of any rechargeable DBS device on the market.
“Deep brain stimulation therapy is often the preferred treatment for many Parkinson’s disease patients,” said Professor Dr. Volker Sturm, chairman of neurosurgery at the University Hospital of Cologne. “For these patients, device size and longevity are important considerations. The small size of the Brio neurostimulator is a real improvement.”
The Brio DBS system delivers mild electrical pulses to specific targets in the brain, stimulating the structures involved in motor control.
“The Brio neurostimulator is an important addition to our family of deep brain stimulation systems,” said Chris Chavez, President of the St. Jude Medical Neuromodulation Division. “We are excited to offer physicians a best-in-class product to help them meet the needs of patients who require a smaller, long-lasting rechargeable system in order to better control the symptoms of this debilitating disease.”
Parkinson’s disease affects approximately 6.3 million people worldwide.
For more details, visit www.sjm.com.