St Jude Medical receives CE Mark for new DBS applications

St Jude Medical has announced that its range of deep brain stimulation (DBS) technology offerings have received European CE Mark approval for the treatment of dystonia.

The firm's Brio, Libra and LibraXP DBS systems have been ratified for managing the symptoms of intractable primary and secondary dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes a person's muscles to contract and spasm involuntarily.

It marks the first time that DBS has been approved by a regulator for the management of both forms of this condition, which can reduce a patient's ability to control their own movements and can often leave them wheelchair-bound.

DBS therapy for dystonia involves the delivery of mild electrical pulses to the subthalamic nucleus or the globus pallidus interna, areas of the brain involved in regulating movement.

Dr Eric Fain, president of the St Jude Medical implantable electronic systems division, said: "This approval represents a significant milestone for St Jude Medical as we continue to develop therapies to treat a broad range of neurological conditions."

Last month, the company announced positive data from a trial of its Trifecta biological pericardial aortic valve, demonstrating its effectiveness in aortic valve replacement applications.