Deep brain stimulation
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
Medtronic has filed a PMA for its deep brain stimulation therapy for patients with medically refractory epilepsy with partial-onset seizures. The application is supported by data from the randomized, double-blind Stimulation of the Anterior Nucleus of the Thalamus in Epilepy (SANTE) trial. Results presented in December at the American Epilepsy Society meeting showed that patients receiving DBS therapy in the left and right anterior nucleus of the thalamus, in conjunction with epilepsy medication, had significantly reduced seizure frequency compared to those receiving no stimulation (1"The Gray Sheet" Dec. 15, 2008). Medtronic has marketed the Activa DBS system for Parkinson's and essential tremor for more than 10 years