Medtronic’s Visualase laser ablation system used for first time in new study

Medtronic has announced that its Visualase MRI-guided laser ablation system is being deployed in a clinical study to treat a common form of epilepsy.

The first procedure utilising the Visualase system has been performed in the pivotal SLATE clinical trial at the Mayo Clinic. This trial is designed to support the expanded indication of Visualase for the treatment of patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

This form of the disease is the most common partial or localisation-related epilepsy type, with at least one-third of patients continuing to experience seizures regardless of the number or type of antiepileptic drugs used.

Approximately 120 adult patients will be treated at selected epilepsy centres across the US in this new trial, providing a comprehensive evaluation of the risks and benefits of the device in this new indication.

Brett Wall, Medtronic senior vice-president and president of its brain therapies division, said: "The SLATE study is an example of Medtronic's commitment to conduct rigorous clinical research in partnership with physicians and providers. Such collaborations offer the opportunity to better serve patients through the development and analysis of new technologies and indications."

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