Csaba Dózsa, habil PhD MSc, Health Economist, discusses his model for cost-effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of pressure injuries in an interview with SmartTRAK.

In this interview, Prof. Dózsa unveils his groundbreaking pressure injury (PI) prevention costing model. With a 20-year background in health economics, he embarked on this journey from Hungary's National Health Insurance Fund. His expertise shaped the German DRG point system locally and steered home care development. Establishing Med-Econ Ltd., he delved into diverse health economic studies, culminating in a sophisticated, non-linear model for PI prevention costs.

The model's complexity stems from recognizing intricate healthcare inputs and outcomes. It calculates annual PI costs across scenarios: implementing preventive care bundles with or without multi-layer dressings, and treatment-only approaches. Designed as a calculation framework, it showcases the efficacy of preventive wound care.

Among the many questions answered by Prof, Dózsa in this interview are:

• Can this model be used in any health and political environment?
• How does the use of this model affect a hospital's use of dressings?
• How would you describe the cost structure of prevention and treatment?
• Can this model and its outcome lead to systemic changes?
• How long would it take a hospital or hospital system to adapt the model to their data?
• Can this model be used equally in the case of higher-risk patients, older patients or in hospitals that see proportionally more of these patients?

The interview, conducted by Anikó Szekér, SmartTRAK Senior Analyst, Wound Care, offers insights into Prof. Dózsa's journey and his PI prevention costing model's potential. To download a complete transcript of the interview, just click the button below.

SmartTRAK was on-site at ASPN 2023 covering industry-sponsored RCT updates and data reveals, as well as new players and trends in the interventional pain space.

As the number of patients suffering from chronic pain increases, the interventional pain market continues to grow. Physicians and device developers are rising to the challenge by offering more personalized pain treatment options for an expanding list of indications. As a result, new differentiators for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) players have emerged, as well as newcomers in the peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) market. Beyond neuromodulation, minimally-invasive surgical (MIS) spine procedures, sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion and regenerative medicine products also provide innovative solutions for chronic pain management. In this interesting article, SmartTRAK highlights the newest data, innovation and market developments at the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) 2023 Annual Meeting held in Miami, FL.

Among the many topics discussed in comprehensive detail in this article, which can be downloaded here, are:

• SCS Sees Cutthroat Competition
  • MRI Compatibility and Closed-Loop SCS
  • Painful Diabetic Neuropathy (PDN)
  • Artificial Intelligence, Programming Solutions and Remote Monitoring
• Expanding Horizons in PNS
  • Types of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
  • Outcomes, Comfort and Wearability for Externally-powered Devices
  • Injectrode Technology
• What’s New in MIS Spine and SI Joint Fusion
  • Leveraging Enabling Technology for Pain Procedures
  • Innovations in MIS Spine and SI Joint Instrumentation
• Scientific Focus on Biologics and Regenerative Medicine

To identify current and future trends in interventional pain management and PNS, SmartTRAK recently surveyed 30 interventional pain physicians, including 18 who perform PNS, to get an inside view of procedure trends, what treatments and devices they use and who they see as future winners in the chronic pain space. To purchase the results of this comprehensive survey, see SmartTRAK’s Trends in Interventional Pain Management and PNS.

To download a complimentary copy of the complete "ASPN 2023: Advancements in Interventional Pain Treatment" article, just click the button below.

At the 2023 Annual Meeting in monumental Washington DC, the Biologic Association and the American Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) teamed up with American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) to spotlight the growing interest in and latest advancements of biologics in musculoskeletal medicine. Taking center stage and garnering attention was the idea of “biological healing” and the use of biologics in various conditions and at different points of a continuum of care.

Not surprisingly, the Biological Association focused more on autologous therapies, cell culturing and the next generation of biologics, while the AOSSM meeting explored the current use and growing trends of traditional orthobiologics in orthopedic applications. This article, which is downloadable here, is part one in a two-part series highlighting key takeaways from the Biologic Association meeting, including:

• Biologic Association Key Takeaways
• Rules of Engagement: Regulations and Needed Standards
  • “Same Surgical Procedure Exception” Guidance
  •  Standards for Autologous Orthobiologics
  • Driving Better Patient Outcomes
• Current Use of Autologous Therapies and Next Generation of Biologics
  • Current Practice
  • Next Generation of Biologics
• Notable Investigative Technologies

Although several biologics seem promising to treat musculoskeletal conditions, there is still an uphill battle for widespread use. Current challenges include ...

To download "Biologics in Musculoskeletal Medicine," Part One of the series of articles by Kimberly French, SmartTRAK's GM, Orthobiologics and Regenerative Medicine, just click the button below. Look for Part Two in this series, which will cover key takeaways from AOSSM, highlighting the current use of Orthobiologics and growing trends, in the coming weeks.

In a joint interview with Eugene Malinskiy, founder and CEO of Lazurite, and orthopedic surgeon Dr James Voos, we discuss the world’s first wireless surgical camera, the Lazurite ArthroFree camera.

Eugene Malinskiy, the founder and CEO of Lazurite, and orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Voos discuss the technological and clinical benefits of the new ArthroFree camera, the world’s first fully wireless surgical camera, with Andy Knapik, SmartTRAK's Senior Analyst, Soft Tissue & Arthroscopic Technologies.

To learn more about Lazurite and the ArthroFree System, click the following video to watch the interview (27:05 min).  For more details, interview topics by timecode are provided below. To download a complete transcript of the interview, click here.

Interview Topics By Timecode

1:25 Background of Lazurite and the ArthroFree camera.

7:05 Surgeon impressions of the ArthroFree camera.

10:10 Camera integration, image quality, battery life, ergonomics.

16:05 How the camera connects to the monitor and image capture.

19:22 How do facilities react to purchasing the ArthroFree.

22:05 Uses of the ArthroFree camera.

To download the complete transcript of the interview with Eugene Malinskiy, the founder and CEO of Lazurite, and orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Voos, just click the button below.

SmartTRAK constantly monitors the worldwide MedTech industry, sifting through the noise to present to our subscribers the most relevant international news, trends, new products, patents, financial data and competitor developments in the global Life Sciences industry. Contact Us if you'd like to learn how to receive these expert insights daily. Our users think it's the perfect way to start their day.

The following is just a small sampling of recent Neurovascular market updates from around the world compiled, reviewed and posted daily by our SmartTRAK analysts.

New Products:

• ZOOM* - Imperative Care* 
  

  Imperative Care announced the completion of first cases using the recently FDA-cleared Zoom 88 Support catheter. One of the cases was an AIS patient with a tandem occlusion treated at Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga, TN. SmartTRAK reported FDA clearance of the device on Jun 15.

• MicroPort*

   MicroPort NeuroTech announced in May 2023 that it has completed the first clinical implantation of its NUMEN Detachable Embolization Coil for neurovascular aneurysm treatment in both the UK and Ireland.

• EOSolutions Launches Dr. Banner BGC

   EOSolutions announced the full commercial launch of its Dr. Banner, Balloon Guide Catheter (BGC), developed in collaboration with InNeuroCo. According to the Company, the BGC features a 0.091 ID, proximal stability, distal trackability and a compliant polyurethane balloon.

Patents:

• phenox*
  

  phenox GmbH’s US Patent Application “Insertion System For Implants For Treatment Of Bifurcation Aneurysms” was published disclosing a Y-shaped tubular implant and Y-shaped insertion catheter for bifurcation aneurysm treatment. 20230233347

• Aspiration Catheter with an Adjustable Tip

  The Univ of Toledo’s US Patent Application “Aspiration Catheter With An Adjustable Tip For The Intracranial Circulation” was published disclosing a neurovascular aspiration catheter with an adjustable tip controlled by pull wires. 20230233221

  

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) projects Medicare home health spending in the US will grow at an 8-year (2023-2031) CAGR of +8.6% compared to +7.4% for hospital expenditures. These projections help validate that healthcare services are shifting to the home care setting. The migration is driven by efforts to reduce costs, improve access and enhance the quality of care. Policymakers continue to manipulate reimbursement formulas to incentivize change. CMS recently released the CY 2024 Home Health Prospective Payment System (PPS) Proposed Rule that includes reimbursement policy revisions that could potentially increase the utilization of disposable negative pressure wound therapy (dNPWT) in the home health setting. This free downloadable article highlights:

• The Trajectory of dNPWT,
• Historical Challenges Associated with the Uptake in the Home Setting
• Incremental Policy Efforts Designed to Mitigate Those Challenges
• Billing Complexity Stalling Growth
• Incremental Changes Show Progress
• Impact of Proposed Policy Changes. 

With the establishment of a separate payment for the dNPWT and the relatively simpler billing processes, the proposed CMS changes are a net positive for manufacturers treating wounds in the home health setting. However, given the growing competition ...

To download the complete "CMS Proposed Rule Incentivizes Home Use of Disposable NPWT" perspective article by Terry Hayslett, SmartTRAK Senior Analyst, Advanced Wound Care, just click the button below.