Introduction

The magnitude of research and development executed in neurostimulation innovation is high. Some of the prominent areas in neurostimulation where extensive clinical trails are executed include deep brain stimulation (DBS), spinal cord stimulation (SCS), and microstimulation.

Features and benefits

* Identify the specific diseases for which neurostimulation has potential applicability.
* Understand the scientific principles underlying neurostimulation technologies, and how the devices differ between disease areas.
* Assess the areas in which further research is necessary before neurostimulation devices become widespread clinical tools.
* Examine the most prominent challenges remaining to be solved and analyze the hurdles that have slowed progress.
* Gain an overview of key companies in the field and compare their level of research activity and areas of research focus.

Highlights

The microstimulator was proposed to be a single point solution, being capable of treating all neurological pathologies. The Bion microstimulator has shown considerable promise, but since its aquisition by Boston Scientific, progress to the market has slowed dramatically.
Progress in the development of devices for drop foot and grasp is limited by two main challenges. The first is the need for placing electrodes at more than one location, because muscles work in groups. The second is battery life, owing to the high current needed to stimulate the large muscles, and the highly variable patient to patient usage.
Deep brain stimulation has shown promise for the treatment of both depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, although such use remains at a nascent stage and larger scale trials will be necessary to provide conclusive evidence.

Your key questions answered

* What are the prominent neurological pathologies that are the subject of research into treatment by the application of neurostimulation devices?
* How will neurostimulation devices evolve over the next decade?
* What research challenges prevail in the application of neurostimulation devices?
* What key neurostimulation patent applications have been published recently?
* How successful is transcranial magnetic stimulation in treatment of depression?

Executive Summary
Neurological pathologies
Neurostimulation devices
About Business Insights
Disclaimer
Introduction
What is this report about?
Methodology
Neurological pathologies
Summary
Introduction
Neuron physiology
Neurological pathologies
Dementia
Non-dementia neurological diseases
Neurostimulation devices
Summary
Introduction
Electric and magnetic stimulators
Strength and charge duration
Principles of stimulators
Constant voltage stimulator
Constant current stimulator
Microstimulators
Background
Assessment of the Bion microstimulator
Drop foot and grasp stimulation
Drop foot stimulation
Grasp stimulation
Assessment of stimulators for drop foot and grasp
Cochlear stimulation
Background
Assessment of cochlear stimulation
Visual stimulation
Background
Assessment of visual stimulation
Spinal cord and bladder stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation
Stimulation for bladder dysfunction
Assessment of spinal cord and bladder stimulation
Deep brain stimulation
Background
DBS for depression
DBS treatment for psychiatric illness – is it ethical?
Assessment of deep brain stimulation
Magnetic stimulation
Background
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
Magnetic mirror stimulation
Assessment of magnetic stimulation
Prominent companies in neurostimulation
Medtronic
Overview
Business Insights’ pick: key Medtronic neurostimulation patent applications
Boston Scientific
Overview
Business Insight’s pick: key Boston Scientific neurostimulation patent applications
St Jude Medical
Overview
Business Insight’s pick: key St Jude Medical neurostimulation patent applications
Advanced Bionics
Overview
Business Insights’ pick: key Advanced Bionics neurostimulation patent application
Intelect Medical
Overview
Business Insights’ pick: key Intelect Medical neurostimulation patent application
Cyberonics
Overview
Business Insights’ pick: key Cyberonics neurostimulation patent applications
Neuropace
Overview
Business Insights’ pick: key Neuropace neurostimulation patent application
Optobionics
Overview
BioControl Medical
Overview
Business Insights’ pick: key BioControl Medical neurostimulation patent application
Brainsway
Overview
Appendix
Abbreviations
Bibliography