Report: Doctors warn that lightning can affect deep brain stimulation devices
Deep brain stimulation devices, used to treat neurological movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease, are vulnerable to strong electromagnetic fields that are created by other electrical devices.
But when a 66-year-old Slovenian woman’s DBS implant stopped working, it wasn’t due to interference from a device – the malfunction was caused by lightning.
In a case report published this week in the Journal of Neurosurgery, doctors described a unique case they encountered with a patient using a rechargeable DBS system to treat her neck dystonia. When her apartment was struck by lightning, the patient&#...
Source: Mass Device - May 4, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Sarah Faulkner Tags: Neurological Source Type: news
Botulinum Toxin A Injection Effective for Laryngeal Dystonia, Including Tremor Botulinum Toxin A Injection Effective for Laryngeal Dystonia, Including Tremor
Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - February 15, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medscape Today News Source Type: news
Dystonia chronic pain 'completely changed my life'
Ann Pierce-Jones used to be full of confidence but now lives "day-to-day" in chronic pain. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)
Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition - February 11, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Dystonia patients' 'distress' over cancelled Botox clinics
People with the condition require regular Botox injections to prevent painful muscle spasms. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)
Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition - February 11, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
New study explains how your brain helps you learn new skills
(Gladstone Institutes) Researchers from the Gladstone Institutes uncovered how a special type of neuron improves the efficiency of procedural learning. They initially wanted to show how the specialized brain cells, called fast-spiking interneurons, cause movement disorders, such as Tourette's syndrome, dystonia, and dyskinesia. As it turns out, that isn't the case. But their work led them to an even greater discovery. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - February 8, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Deep brain stimulation: Improving outcomes in the treatment of movement disorders
(Charit é - Universit ä tsmedizin Berlin) For the first time, researchers from Charit é have shown that, in patients with a type of movement disorder known as dystonia, a particular pattern of brain activity is linked to both the severity of symptoms and the clinical outcomes achieved through deep brain stimulation. Results from this study, which has been published in the journal Annals of Neurology*, may help to improve the way in which treatment is adapted to an individual patients needs. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - December 22, 2017 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Your NEJM Group Today: Seizures & Progressive Dystonia Case / Liver Transplant Indications Changing / New Mexico IM Opportunity
Take a look at today ' s offering from NEJM Group: NEJM Clinical Practice Center: Case Record: A 20-year-old woman was evaluated for seizures and... (Source: Physician's First Watch current issue)
Source: Physician's First Watch current issue - December 20, 2017 Category: Primary Care Source Type: news
Jacob ’s story: What it’s like to have a stroke as a kid
My name is Jacob and I’m 8 years old. Two years ago, I had a stroke. At first, I didn’t realize what that meant, and I didn’t understand why I couldn’t move the way I used to.
With time, I’ve been able to get most of my function back, but my right arm has something called dystonia. That means the muscles cramp up and sometimes my arm moves on its own or gets stiff. I can’t control it, and that makes life hard sometimes.
I come to Boston Children’s Hospital every few months to see Dr. Michael Rivkin at the Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center there. Nobody likes having to go to the doctor, but Dr. Rivkin is more...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - September 26, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Jacob Downing Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Dr. Michael Rivkin stroke Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center Source Type: news
Validation of fear of falling and balance confidence assessment scales in persons with dystonia - Boyce MJ, Lam L, Chang F, Mahant N, Fung VSC, Bradnam L.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Falls are problematic for people living with neurological disorders and a fear of falling can impact on actual falls. Fear of falling is commonly assessed using the Falls Self-Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) or the Activities-s... (Source: SafetyLit)
Source: SafetyLit - September 22, 2017 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Tags: Ergonomics, Human Factors, Anthropometrics, Physiology Source Type: news
Calvin ’s gift: Second opinion provides answers and hope
It’s not often that parents breathe a sigh of relief when their child is diagnosed with a chronic, potentially debilitating condition. But that sense of peace is just what Paula and Scott Hurd felt when they were told that their son, Calvin, had a rare movement disorder. “We were so happy to finally understand what was happening,” says Paula.
Slipping away
The search for answers had begun several years earlier, when Calvin started limping. At first, his family thought he had simply tripped over something and injured himself. But when he didn’t improve, they took him to the doctor. A series of appointments with spe...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - September 13, 2017 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Jessica Cerretani Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories cerebral palsy Cerebral Palsy Program Dr. Benjamin Shore Dr. David Coulter dystonia Second opinion Source Type: news
Mayo Clinic picks up 11% stake in neuromod startup NeuroOne
The Mayo Clinic as acquired an 10.9% stake in epilepsy treatment neuromod startup NeuroOne’s parent firm, according an SEC filing from the company.
NeuroOne is developing a “thin film” electrode technology, originally from the University of Wisconsin, designed to be implanted in the brain. The film can detect irregular brain activity, accurate to single neurons, to pinpoint the source of seizures and tremors, according to the filing, and has been used in testing at the Mayo Clinic.
The technology combines detection alongside deep brain stimulation treatment and ablation capabilities to monitor and treat irreg...
Source: Mass Device - August 7, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Fink Densford Tags: Business/Financial News Neurological Neuromodulation/Neurostimulation Mayo Clinic neuroone Source Type: news
MassDevice.com +5 | The top 5 medtech stories for June 28, 2017
Say hello to MassDevice +5, a bite-sized view of the top five medtech stories of the day. This feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our 5 biggest and most influential stories from the day’s news to make sure you’re up to date on the headlines that continue to shape the medical device industry.
Get this in your inbox everyday by subscribing to our newsletters.
5. Sirtex shares jump on restructuring plan, 15% headcount reduction
Sirtex Medical saw shares jump today after revealing plans for a major restructuring as the company looks to cut its headcount and focus on its “profitable cor...
Source: Mass Device - June 28, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: MassDevice Tags: News Well Plus 5 Source Type: news
Medtronic wins CE Mark for SureTune3 deep-brain stimulation software
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) said today that it won CE Mark approval in the European Union for its SureTune3 deep-brain stimulation software, which is designed to map lead locations and indicate the level of stimulation.
The Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic said its DBS devices are approved in the E.U. for treating Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor, obsessive-compulsive disorder and epilepsy, claiming the portfolio as the only one to be full-body MR-conditional and able to operate during MRI scans.
and is the only DBS complete portfolio that, under specific conditions, is full body MR conditional and can be left...
Source: Mass Device - June 28, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Brad Perriello Tags: Neuromodulation/Neurostimulation Regulatory/Compliance Medtronic Source Type: news
Impairments of balance, stepping reactions and gait in people with cervical dystonia - Barr C, Barnard R, Edwards L, Lennon S, Bradnam L.
BACKGROUND: Impaired balance is common in neurological disorders. Cervical dystonia is a neurological movement disorder affecting the neck. The effect of this aberrant head posture on physical function is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To compare balance, mo... (Source: SafetyLit)
Source: SafetyLit - April 25, 2017 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Ergonomics, Human Factors, Anthropometrics, Physiology Source Type: news
23andMe is back: FDA allows marketing of genetic health risk tests
[Image courtesy of 23andMe]FDA this month allowed genetic testing company 23andMe to market genetic health risk tests for 10 diseases and conditions including Parkinson’s disease and late-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
The de novo premarket review authorization, announced April 6, also included celiac disease, which results in the inability to digest gluten; alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which raises the risk of lung and liver disease; early-onset primary dystonia, a movement disorder; factor XI deficiency, a blood clotting disorder; Gaucher disease type 1, a disorder involving organs and tissue; glucose-6-phosphate deh...
Source: Mass Device - April 21, 2017 Category: Medical Equipment Authors: Chris Newmarker Tags: Business/Financial News Diagnostics Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Genomics Molecular Diagnostics News Well Regulatory/Compliance 23andme 23andMe Inc. MedTech Source Type: news
