With the recent success of Ardian’s Symplicity Renal Denervation System, drug-resistant hypertension has emerged as something of a device market “gold rush.” Some observers estimate there are now as many as 40 companies developing various device-based therapies for resistant hypertension, including most of the big names in the cardiovascular device arena – Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson, and Covidien PLC – along with a number of start-ups, all of which are racing to stake a claim in this highly promising market. Only time will tell which companies will be successful – even Medtronic, the first player, has yet to complete its sham-controlled US trial. But the technology’s early promise, along with the sheer size of the opportunity and the acute unmet need, clearly have peaked the interest of investors, manufacturers, and physicians alike, all of whom are chasing after what one participant has called “the next biggest thing in cardiology.”

Implantable neurostimulation devices have the potential to ameliorate a number of debilitating conditions in which neural pathways play a role. Combined, these applications are expected to bring in device revenues of nearly $1.4 billion in the US alone in 2010, and that number is forecast to increase by double-digits going forward, reaching over $2.6 billion by 2014, according to Medtech Insight's recently published report, "US Markets for Neurostimulation Products."

Implantable neurostimulation devices have the potential to ameliorate a number of debilitating conditions in which neural pathways play a role. Combined, these applications are expected to bring in device revenues of nearly $1.4 billion in the US alone in 2010, and that number is forecast to increase by double-digits going forward, reaching over $2.6 billion by 2014, according to Medtech Insight's recently published report, "US Markets for Neurostimulation Products."