Medical Device and Wound Care News and Analysis Blog

Anne Staylor

Former Senior Editor, Medtech Insight. +25 years in various leadership roles in business intelligence, marketing, communications, product management, and consulting for medical device industry, hospitals, physician groups, insurers. Registered nurse and former Director of Marketing for a national ambulatory surgery company.

Perfuze: Building, Innovating and Simplifying Stroke Care

By Anne Staylor on 4/28/25 10:10 AM

Perfuze CEO Wayne Allen discusses the company, its novel technology and how the company plans to capture share in the US Market for Mechanical Thrombectomy Devices in an interview with SmartTRAK.

To see the full interview, click on the following video (32:35 min). An outline of the interview by timecode and a link to download a transcript of the interview are provided below.

Interview Topics by Timecode:

00:07 Perfuze CEO Wayne Allen discusses his background, the company and its mission.
03:26 Overview of Perfuze technology and products.
07:05 Regulatory approvals and clinical research
08:43 Status of MARRS IDE Study and future plans. Seeking a standalone thrombectomy indication.
11:08 Differentiating Millipede 088 Catheter and competing in the market.
15:40 Status of Millipede 088’s limited market release in the US, commercial strategy, and obtaining real-world insights.
19:29 Funding and timeline to finance and accelerate commercial expansion, clinical, R&D initiatives and pipeline.
21:18 Long-term goals, future innovations/indications and growth.
24:47 Strategic vision, capturing share and market positioning.
27:13 Addressing uncertainties, supply chain challenges, tariffs and future outlook.
28:46 What’s next for Perfuze and closing remarks.

Click the button below to download the complete transcript of our interview with Perfuze CEO Wayne Allen, in which he discusses his company, its novel technology and strategies for growth in the US Market for Mechanical Thrombectomy. Anne Staylor, SmartTRAK Executive Editor, VP & GM of Neuro Therapies, conducted the interview.

Topics: Neuro Therapies Stroke Care

3 min read

NANS 2025: Charting New Territory With Ultra-Low Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation

By Anne Staylor on 2/11/25 9:30 AM

Dr. Marc Russo discusses his research on ultra-low frequency SCS and its potential to treat nociceptive back pain in an interview with SmartTRAK at NANS 2025.

While spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been a standard treatment for chronic neuropathic pain conditions for over 40 years, SCS technologies to date have not demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of chronic low back pain that is predominantly nociceptive in origin. At the recent North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) 2025 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Dr. Marc Russo, a professor at the University of Newcastle in Australia, presented data evaluating the use of ultra-low frequency (ULF) SCS (Presidio Medical) for the treatment of nociceptive chronic low back pain, which affects a much larger segment of the population than those affected by chronic neuropathic pain.

While chronic low back pain can have a mix of both nociceptive and neuropathic pain, a technology that can effectively treat nociceptive pain, or even both types of pain, could be a game changer. In an interview with SmartTRAK, Dr. Russo discusses ULF SCS, its mechanism of action and how this research is charting new territory in the treatment of chronic low back pain.

To find out more about ULF SCS and Dr. Russo’s latest research, listen to the interview below (12:59 min). A link to download a complete transcript of the interview is also provided below.

SmartTRAK: Anne Staylor here with SmartTRAK. Today, I'm at the North American Neuromodulation Society Annual Meeting and I have the opportunity to speak with Dr. Marc Russo, a professor at the University of Newcastle in Australia.

Hi, Dr. Russo. So nice to see you again.

Dr. Marc Russo: Hi, Anne. Likewise.

I always like to talk to you about innovation. You seem to be on the leading edge of these things all the time. So here at the meeting, you've presented on a new technology that you've been studying, ultra-low frequency spinal cord stimulation. You presented a study. Let's start by having you provide an overview about what ultra-low frequency is for spinal cord stimulation and then we'll get into the study. Can you start with that?

Dr. Marc Russo: Yes. Absolutely. And I think we really have to set the scene by talking about the original research work that looked at how we could actually interact with nervous system tissue. So that work goes all the way back to the work of Huxley back in 1961. And in that, they showed ... (read more)

Click the button below to download the full transcript of the interview "NANS 2025: Charting New Territory With Ultra-Low Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation." In this conversation, Dr. Mark Russo, past president of the International Neuromodulation Society and associate professor at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia, discusses his research on ultra-low frequency SCS and its potential to treat nociceptive back pain with Anne Staylor, SmartTRAK Executive Editor, VP & GM of Neuro Therapies.

Topics: Neuro Therapies Spinal Cord Stimulation

3 min read

Terumo Neuro: Aiming for #1 in Neurovascular

By Anne Staylor on 1/28/25 10:36 AM

Carsten Schroeder, president and CEO of Terumo Neuro, discusses the company’s plans to capture share and become the market leader in neurovascular.

Carsten Schroeder, president and CEO of Terumo Neuro, discusses the company’s rebranding, plans for growth and becoming the market leader in neuroendovascular technologies in an interview with SmartTRAK. Listen to the video below to find out more, including how Terumo plans to innovate and take share via new disease states and markets in addition to its core neurovascular markets (ischemic, hemorrhagic and access).

Click on the video below to watch the interview (32:05 min). A link to download the complete transcript of the interview is available here. For more details, interview topics by timecode are provided below.

Topics: Neuro Therapies Neurotherapies

4 min read

Q'Apel Medical: Differentiating Devices for Neurointervention

By Anne Staylor on 12/24/24 9:48 AM

Q’Apel Medical CEO Jodie Fam discusses the company, strategies for growth and Q’Apel’s approach to innovation in an interview with SmartTRAK at SVIN 2024.

Q’Apel Medical CEO Jodie Fam discusses the company, its technologies, strategies for growth and Q’Apel’s approach to innovation in an interview with SmartTRAK at the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN) held November 22-24, 2024 in San Diego, California.

To find out more, click on the video below to listen to the interview (22:08 min). Click the button below to download a complete transcript of the interview.

Topics: Neuro Therapies Neurovascular

3 min read

ESMINT 2024: What's New in Neurointervention

By Anne Staylor on 11/12/24 9:30 AM

SmartTRAK reports on the latest research and innovation in neurointervention from ESMINT 2024.

The European Society for Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy (ESMINT) Annual Congress is unique, not only because it addresses issues and trends pertinent to Europe, but because it also provides a worldwide perspective that features cutting edge science, industry symposia, a novel “startup alley” and the latest advancements in therapies and techniques affecting the market for the minimally invasive treatment of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

In this downloadable article, SmartTRAK highlights the top news, research and advances in neurointervention from ESMINT 2024 held September 4-6 in Marseille, France. This includes:

Innovation in Access Devices
- Over the last several years, companies have been developing new catheters and access devices designed to better navigate difficult anatomy and tortuous vessels to reach target vessels and achieve rapid access during neurovascular intervention. With this in mind, two companies have developed novel guidewires with remotely shapeable tips that can be used to address different types of anatomy and facilitate successful catheterization ... (read more)
Advances in Mechanical Thrombectomy from the Following Companies
- Rapid Medical
- Q’Apel Medical
- Balt
- WallabyPhenox
- Acandis
- Stryker
- Medtronic
- PenumbraPenumbra
- JNJ MedTech
- Terumo Neuro
- Vesalio
Current and Emerging Flow Diverters
- Since the FDA approved Medtronic’s Pipeline Embolization Device in 2011, flow diversion has revolutionized the treatment of intracranial aneurysms and allowed clinicians to treat a wider range of aneurysms in more complex anatomies. Today, flow diverters continue to evolve and almost every manufacturer of neurovascular devices currently has or is developing a flow diverter as part of its hemorrhagic stroke portfolio. (read more)

Click the button below to download and read the comprehensive "ESMINT 2024: What's New in Neurointervention" Market Outlook article by Anne Staylor, SmartTRAK Executive Editor VP and GM, Neuro Therapies.

Topics: Neuro Therapies Neurovascular

2 min read

ASPN 2024: Research and Innovation in Interventional Pain

By Anne Staylor on 9/18/24 9:30 AM

SmartTRAK reports the latest research and innovation in interventional pain management from ASPN 2024.

Interventional pain management is rapidly evolving. Practitioners are expanding the tools in their toolbox beyond traditional pain therapies to offer patients a wider range of new and innovative treatment options in spinal cord stimulation (SCS), peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), minimally invasive spine and radiofrequency ablation as well as regenerative and restorative therapies.

In this article, SmartTRAK highlights the latest research and innovation in interventional pain management from the American Society of Pain & Neuroscience (ASPN) Annual Conference, held July 11-14 in Miami, FL. The ASPN meeting has grown exponentially over the last several years and is a reflection of the growing interest in providing more treatment options to patients with chronic intractable pain. (See also SmartTRAK’s interview with ASPN Chairman Tim Deer, MD, ASPN 2024: Evolving Ideas into Innovation and Practice .)

Among the many topics covered in detail in this informative article are:

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Correlating Neurophysiological Data to Pain and Treatment Success
FAST US Real-World Data
Remote SCS Management
Data Supporting Expanded Indications
- Nonsurgical Back Pain
- Painful Diabetic Neuropathy
- Nociceptive Pain

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Craniofacial, Head/Neck Pain
Comfort PNS Devices
Next Generation PNS Devices

Minimally Invasive Spine

Basivertebral Nerve Ablation (BVNA)
Minimally Invasive SI Joint Fusion
Lumbar Decompression for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Regenerative and Restorative Medicine

Intradiscal Therapy

Click the button below to download and read the complete "ASPN 2024: Research and Innovation in Interventional Pain" Market Outlook article by Anne Staylor, SmartTRAK Executive Editor, VP & GM of Neuro Therapies.

Topics: Neuro Therapies Pain Management

3 min read

Medtronic: Transforming DBS Therapy - An Interview with Amaza Reitmeier

By Anne Staylor on 9/4/24 9:45 AM

Amaza Reitmeier, Medtronic’s VP and GM of Brain Modulation, discusses the company’s recent FDA approvals for asleep DBS and expanded MRI labeling, and provides an update on adaptive DBS in an interview with SmartTRAK.

In an interview with SmartTRAK, Medtronic’s Amaza Reitmeier, vice president and general manager of Brain Modulation, discusses the company’s recent news in deep brain stimulation (DBS), including FDA approval for asleep DBS and MRI expanded labeling that allows patients to undergo additional scan time. She also provides an update on adaptive DBS (aDBS) and the ADAPT-PD trial, which is expected to support the global regulatory submissions to commercialize aDBS in patients with PD. Medtronic recently filed for US FDA approval of aDBS.

Click on the following video to listen to the interview (14:32 minutes). A link to download a complete transcript of the interview is also provided below.

Interview Transcript

SmartTRAK: Hey everybody. Anne Staylor here with SmartTRAK. Today I get to talk to Amaza Reitmeier, the vice president and general manager of Brain Modulation at Medtronic. Hey Amaza, thanks for talking with me.

Amaza Reitmeier: Hi, Anne. Great to see you.

I know that you have some big news around DBS. You guys are advancing pretty quickly. The latest news involves FDA approval for asleep vs awake DBS, MRI expanded labeling, and then maybe you could give me an update on some other aspects of the adaptive DBS. So let's get started.

AR: Fantastic.

What is the significance? Talk a little bit about the FDA approval for asleep vs awake DBS, and why is that important? A lot of people are doing that. Just talk a little bit about the significance of that and what it means for Medtronic.

AR: Thank you, Anne. Well, first and foremost, you know from our prior conversations that we're very focused on the patient and making sure that patients have the best options available to them. While you're right that asleep DBS has been being done for years, it's actually been contraindicated in our labeling. The original labeling for DBS, which was established decades ago, required test stimulation to confirm that the therapy was working. But we also know that ...

Click the button below to download and read the full transcript of the SmartTRAK perspective article "Transforming DBS Therapy - An Interview with Amaza Reitmeier" conducted by Anne Staylor, SmartTRAK's Executive Editor and VP & GM of Neuro Therapies.

Topics: Neuro Therapies Top Story Neuromodulation

3 min read

SNIS 2024: An Interview with Imperative Care's Ariel Sutton

By Anne Staylor on 8/20/24 9:45 AM

Ariel Sutton, EVP and GM of Imperative Care’s Stroke business, discusses the Imperative Trial, the company’s Zoom Insert Catheters and more in an interview with SmartTRAK at SNIS 2024.

Imperative Care’s Ariel Sutton, executive vice president and general manager of the company’s Stroke business, discusses results from the Imperative Trial, what it means for the acute ischemic stroke (AIS) market and the company’s newest innovations in an interview with SmartTRAK at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgeons (SNIS) 21^st Annual meeting in Colorado Springs, CO held July 22 to 26, 2024.

To find out more, listen to the following video (15:54 minutes). A link to download the complete transcript of the interview is also provided below.

Interview Transcript (scroll down to download the complete transcript)

SmartTRAK: Anne Staylor here with SmartTRAK. Today I am speaking with Ariel Sutton, EVP and GM of Imperative Care Stroke Business, live from the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgeons annual meeting in Colorado Springs. Ariel, thank you for talking with me today.

Ariel Sutton: Thank you for having me.

Let's start by having you talk about Imperative Care's presence at SNIS. What's important for us to know?

AS: We’re really excited to share the results of the Imperative Trial at SNIS this year. This is a 260-patient prospective trial across 26 centers in the US, evaluating the clinical benefits of the Zoom Stroke Solution, including aspiration with our Zoom 88 catheters. The results from the trial showed high reperfusion rates of 82.2% TICI 2B+, which is similar to previous studies that were submitted to the FDA for 510(k) clearance for reperfusion indication. There are a few metrics that we think are important to highlight from the trial. First is ...

Click the button below to download and read the full transcript of the interview "SNIS 2024: An Interview with Imperative Care's Ariel Sutton" , conducted by Anne Staylor, SmartTRAK's Executive Editor and VP & GM of Neuro Therapies.

Topics: Neuro Therapies

5 min read

ASPN 2024: SmartTRAK's Interview with Tim Deer, MD

By Anne Staylor on 7/16/24 8:41 PM

ASPN Chairman Tim Deer, MD, discusses the research and innovation at ASPN 2024 and the society’s collaborative approach to improving care for patients with chronic intractable pain in an interview with SmartTRAK.

Timothy R. Deer, MD, chairman of the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN), discusses the society's goals, its rapid growth, and how ASPN is collaborating with different stakeholders to improve patient care and offer a wider range of new and innovative treatment options for patients with chronic intractable pain. To find out more, including what’s new in neuromodulation, minimally invasive spine and regenerative medicine, listen to the following video recorded live at the ASPN 2024 Annual Conference held July 11-14, 2024 in Miami Beach, FL. A link to download the complete transcript of the interview is also provided below.

SmartTRAK: Anne Staylor here with SmartTRAK. I'm at the beautiful Fontainebleau Hotel in balmy Miami Beach, Florida at the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience Annual Conference. Today is the last day of the conference and I have the pleasure of talking with Dr. Tim Deer, the chairman of ASPN. Dr. Deer, thank you for talking with me today.

Dr. Tim Deer: Anne, thank you so much for having me. It's a great pleasure to talk to you and thank you for coming to our meeting.

Yes. Well, as you know, I think three years ago was the last time I was at your meeting, and I've had a colleague cover it who lives on the East Coast since then. Now I'm back covering the meeting and wow, has it grown exponentially since you and Dr. Sayed co-founded this meeting. I think this year, there's been a lot of energy and vibrancy around the content and in the exhibit hall and honestly, there's so much news for me to cover.

But before we get into the meeting, I thought it'd be a good idea to have you start by talking about the meeting itself, how it's grown, what the attendance has been this year, et cetera. And then what have been some of the key goals of society? And what have you and your vice chair, Dr. Sayed, been working toward as a society since you established the meeting?

Topics: Neuro Therapies Regenerative Medicine Top Story Spine Trauma Neuromodulation

4 min read

INS 2024: The Past, Present and Future of Neuromodulation

By Anne Staylor on 6/17/24 12:16 PM

INS President Dr. Marc Russo and INS President-Elect Dr. Konstantin Slavin discuss the current “state of the union” in neuromodulation, how the field is evolving and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in an interview with SmartTRAK at INS 2024.

At the 16th International Neuromodulation Society World Congress (INS 2024) held in Vancouver, Canada, Dr. Marc Russo, INS president, and Dr. Konstantin Slavin, INS president-elect, discussed the current “state of the union” in neuromodulation, how the field is evolving, where it’s going and trends in research, technology and clinical practice in an interview with SmartTRAK. They also discussed challenges and opportunities in the field, how the INS is addressing recent criticisms about neuromodulation and the promise and potential of neuromodulation across a wide range of clinical applications.

To find out more, including the promising indications and areas of growth for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and deep brain stimulation (DBS), click on the following video to listen to the interview recorded live at INS 2024 (51:53 min). Click hereto download a complete transcript of the interview. Topics by timecode are provided below.

Topics: Neuro Therapies Top Story Neuromodulation

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