Daily Health and Medicine News

Boston Scientific takes pain management unit off the auction block

Boston Scientific Corp.’s neuromodulation business, in which Stryker Corp. was rumored to be interested, is reportedly no longer for sale.

Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE:BSX) is still stuck with its pain management business.

The Natick, Mass.-based medical device giant was rumored to be looking to offload its neuromodulation unit for about $1.5 billion over the summer, with Stryker Corp. (NYSE:SYK) said to be a leading suitor.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) also looked into buying the business, but not for much more than $1 billion, according to Bloomberg. Stryker reached “advanced talks” for a transaction in August, according to various news reports, but the companies reportedly couldn’t agree on the value of business.

Boston Scientific spent most of 2010 trying to drum up interest in its neuromodulation and neurovascular businesses. Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Stryker agreed to pay $1.5 billion in cash for the neurovascular unit on Oct. 28, surprising some analysts.

Cochlear developer’s new pain management breakthrough

by Gillian Samuel Monday 13 December 2010 10:55 am

Cochlear former chief technical officer Dr John Parker is leading development of a world-first smartchip to treat chronic pain.

NICTA, Australia’s ICT Research Centre of Excellence, is preparing to run medical trials on the miniature implant device in human patients next year.

The INS2, which stands for Implantable Neuro Sensing and Stimulation, comprises a smartchip embedded in a biocompatible device smaller than a match head, which is sewn into a 1.2mm wide lead made of polymer yarn integrated with electronic wires.

This is implanted in the spine or another suitable location and connected to a central battery-powered intelligent computer processor, around the size of a mobile phone SIM card, which is also implanted in the body. Previous designs involved cumbersome external components and leads.

The INS2 measures nerve impulses and uses electric pulses to block their signals to the brain. “There is real potential for this device to not only be used to treat things like chronic back pain, lower limb pain and pain from nerve damage, but also conditions like migraine headaches and even help ease Parkinson’s disease tremors or epileptic seizures,” Dr Parker said.

NICTA, which is funded by the NSW and Commonwealth governments, plans to manufacture the pain management technology through a commercial spin-out company, Saluda Medical.

Precision Pain & Rehab cuts ribbon

The Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Precision Pain & Rehabilitation Specialists Dec. 2.

Members of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Meet & Greet Committee were present to help Precision Pain & Rehabilitation Specialists celebrate its new location in the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach resort area.

Located in the Summit Office Suites at 18958 Coastal Highway in Rehoboth, Precision Pain & Rehabilitation Specialists was opened by Dr. Jeffrey Conly. Conly specializes in pain management, and has special training in the use of x-ray guided injections, EMG/Nerve testing, medication management and rehabilitative techniques.

He is also one of the first physicians in the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach area trained in the use of spinal cord stimulation in the treatment of chronic pain.

Conly is fellowship trained and double-board certified in pain medicine as well as physical medicine and rehabilitation. Most forms of insurance are accepted and the office is currently accepting new patients.

For more information, or for an appointment, call 827-2323.