At this year's International Stroke Conference in San Antonio, some exciting device-based therapies and approaches were discusssed--including advanced imaging, multimodal therapy and stent-like thrombectomy devices--that may offer improved outcomes for patients that suffer an acute ischemic stroke.

While the debate continues about whether embolic protection devices are really necessary, the space continues to generate interest from investors, start-ups and large companies looking for new technologies. Despite the unfulfilled promise of the past decade, interest has spread to new interventional applications such as percutaneous heart valves, indicating that this area remains a viable opportunity for start-ups.

The International Stroke Conference, held in San Diego in February 2009, presented several device-based therapies and approaches that could offer improved outcomes for patients that suffer an acute ischemic stroke. The technologies discussed included mechanical thrombectomy devices, laser treatments, and combined therapy using ultrasound, microspheres, and thrombolytic drugs.

Brief summaries of recent product and company developments in the device industry, including: developments in cardiac stenting, DES competition heats up as the market stabilizes, and headaches for neuro device companies.