In the market for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS), companies are developing new wireless or minimally invasive technologies with novel waveforms and form factors designed to treat a wide variety of applications and unmet clinical needs, including for the treatment of intractable migraines, chronic intractable postoperative pain, suprascapular neuralgia, low back pain, tibial/ankle pain, stroke rehab, overactive bladder and tibial nerve stimulation, to name a few.

Companies competing in the market for PNS include Stimwave Technologies*, Nalu Medical*, SPR Therapeutics, Bioness and Cala Health among others. To find out more about these companies and what’s new for PNS, SmartTRAK highlights market updates covering the top news, clinical studies, reimbursement and patents in PNS so far in 2020.

Changes proposed in the CMS 2021 Proposed Rules could weigh heavily on the Spine market if enacted.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its Proposed Rules for the Physician Fee Schedule as well as the Outpatient and ASC Payment System for calendar year 2021. There were a number of new and unanticipated proposals within each of the Rules that are likely to have a profound impact on spinal surgery should they be adopted in the Final Rules later this year. A few of the highlights, including those concerning the Physician Fee Schedules and Hospital Outpatient and ASC Payment Systems, are included in the complete article.

To learn more about these and other proposed rule changes, click the button below to read the full article.

MedTech Strategist reported that In May of this year, the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions conducted "an online survey of 50 clinical and service line leaders at US provider organizations on their deferred procedures". With the return of elective procedures being integral to a comeback for the MedTech industry, the results of that survey suggest that the path to resuming these procedures is becoming more complicated.

According to the Deloitte survey, "Respondents expect the return to pre-COVID-19 productivity volumes to take two to six months, with three months the typical estimate. When asked to list their top concerns about resuming deferred procedures, providers say a second coronavirus outbreak is their biggest worry (82%)". It appears that their biggest fear, a COVID-19 resurgence, may be coming to pass.

The following is just a small sampling of recent updates regarding the Life Sciences industry's COVID-related delayed procedures and what an impact a resurgence may have. These updates are compiled, reviewed and posted in real-time by our SmartTRAK analysts, who are constantly monitoring the situation and sifting through the noise to present the most relevant news to our subscribers:

Despite the uncertainty of COVID-19, Skin Substitutes (CTPs) continue to push the boundaries in Advanced Wound Care with impressive clinical studies, new products and technologies, and changing market dynamics.

Despite the unpredictability of COVID-19, skin substitutes (CTPs – cellular and/or tissue-based products) continue to be a hot area of research, innovation and investment in the market for Advanced Wound Care (AWC). This segment is comprised of an assortment of products, including human dermal allografts, amniotic tissue allografts, xenografts, cell-based bioengineered and most recently synthetic type products. Wounds most often treated with these products include diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, challenging surgical wounds, trauma wounds and burns. In addition, these wounds are treated in a variety of settings that include the hospital outpatient department (HOPD) wound clinic, physician office, surgical suite and burn center. In the following article, SmartTRAK reviews the latest news on skin substitutes (CTPs) from SAWC Spring 2020 and provides an update on investment activities as well as reimbursement and market trends amid COVID-19.

We are pleased to announce that Matt Golembeski has joined the team at SmartTRAK as Director of Sales. Matt has 15+ of sales and sales management experience in the medical device industry with a concentration in spine and spine-supportive technologies.

COVID-19 hit the SCS market hard in Q220 as shutdowns and widespread procedure cancellations led to a dramatic decline in SCS revenues.

COVID-19 clobbered the SCS market in Q220 as shutdowns and widespread procedure cancellations led to a dramatic decline in SCS revenues, with the biggest impact in April across all geographies. For Q220, WW SCS revenues tumbled down -38.1% vs Q219, and US SCS revenue dropped by -37.7% YoY according to SmartTRAK Financial Dashboard.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q220 SCS Market Recap* are:

Q220 brought unexpected strong demand for orthopedic robotics, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Q220 brought in unexpected strong demand for orthopedic robotics. Companies rose to the challenge through flexible business models to accommodate limitations in short-term hospital financial constraints through increased financing and implant volume commitments. The unexpected strength in robotics revenues also demonstrated a rebound in elective (total joint) procedures that is expected to normalize in early 2021.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q220 CAS Ortho Market Recap* are:

Despite a downturn in the CAS spine market and a decrease in the proportion of robotic spine cases in Q220, interest in spine robotics and other enabling technologies remains strong.

Although robotic system placements and procedures declined in Q220, companies remain optimistic with strong surgeon interest in spine robotics and a long runway ahead given the early stage of adoption and under penetration of the market. Additionally, product enhancements, new applications and the development of surgical platforms that span multiple enabling technologies (robotics, AI, surgical planning, patient-specific implants, etc.) are expected to drive growth in the CAS spine space going forward.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q220 CAS Spine Market Recap* are:

Calibrating the craziness and uncertainties of a roller coaster quarter

Because Orthobiologics spans various markets and is used in numerous procedures in different surgical settings, Q2 proved to be a roller coaster of a quarter, creating uncertainty and craziness. Beginning in mid-March with stay-at-home orders and restrictions on elective surgery, US elective procedures bottomed in April, resulting in plummeting revenues and increased angst.

Responding quickly to the new twists and turns of COVID-19, many companies shifted priorities, reduced costs and implemented initiatives to help climb out of the record-breaking descent of Q220. Revenue and procedural recovery varied widely and impacted segments differently.

Among the many topics covered in the comprehensive Q220 OrthoBio  Market Recap* are:

With plans to become a stroke strategic, Imperative Care Chairman and CEO Fred Khosravi discusses elevating stroke care through technology and streamlined care in an interview with SmartTRAK

With plans to become a stroke strategic and leader in in the market for neurovascular products, Imperative Care Chairman and CEO Fred Khosravi says Imperative Care is a clinically driven company focused on elevating stroke care by bringing innovation to the market that addresses unmet clinical needs, expands patient access, democratizes the delivery of care and improves first pass efficiency.

The Company secured $85MM in Series C financing in December 2019 and has introduced two new products to the marketplace--the Zoom Aspiration System and the TracStar LDP (large distal platform), a new category of intracranial access device that combines the stability of a long sheath with the flexibility of an intermediate catheter. According to Khosravi, TracStar LDP (0.088” inner lumen) is capable of reaching farther into the brain than other access devices (to the base of the middle cerebral artery), a feat that allows interventionalists to track farther and get closer to the treatment site for both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke procedures.

To find out more about these new products, how Imperative Care is faring amid COVID-19 and the Company’s plans for 2020 and beyond, SmartTRAK recently sat down with Khosravi for a wide-ranging interview conducted via Uberconference. To listen to a recording of the interview, click on the following video (48:15 minutes). Specific interview topics by timecode are also outlined below as is a link to download the complete transcript.