Monthly Archive for March, 2009

Medical Word of the Day: Interventional Neuroradiology

 I have been working with a variety of companies this year. One technology that continues to be at the forefront of medical technology is interventional neuroradiology.  Taking a device a threading it through the blood stream to manage a medical condition that is done in a very minimally invasive manner.  Medical technology around this subject is something to keep an eye on.

Topic: Nuero

Medical Word of the Day: Interventional Neuroradiology 

A subspecialty of neuroradiology in which minimally invasive therapy can be effected by advancing various devices within a blood vessel to a point of a previously identified lesion–eg, an intracranial aneurysm

Medical Word Definition:  Neuroradiology:

The field within radiology that specializes in the use of radioactive substances, x-rays and scanning devices for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nervous system. Neuroradiology involves the clinical imaging, therapy, and basic science of the central and peripheral nervous system, including but not limited to the brain, spine, head and neck, interventional procedures, techniques in imaging and intervention, and related educational, socioeconomic, and medicolegal issues.

What is a What is a Vascular and Interventional Neurologist? (From the Society of vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN)

Vascular and Interventional Neurologist is a physician specialized in treating neurological and stroke conditions using minimally invasive procedures. The specialty is evolved in collaboration with specialists from vascular neurology, neurocritical care, interventional neuro-radiology, and endovascular neurosurgery. To become a vascular and interventional neurologist, a physician has to complete general neurology training followed by one year of stroke training or neurocritical care training and two years of hands on training in neuro-interventional procedures. The neuro-interventional procedures are performed under the guidance of X-ray monitors through the groin artery. The procedures include, but not limited to dissolving clots from blocked brain arteries in patient with stroke, or removing the clot with snare like devices, placing a stent “mesh like tube” to keep the brain and carotid arteries open, treating brain aneurysm by placing platinum coils, treating brain arteriovenous malformation with glue embolization. In addition, procedures to alleviate back pain such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty to implant a cement material to repair compression back fracture are performed.

More information can be found through the Society of vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN)

The following is a list of diseases and conditions typically treated by neurointerventionists.

  • Cerebral aneurysm
  • Brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
  • Carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF)
  • Dural arteriovenous fistula
  • Extracranial (brachiocephalic) atherosclerosis
  • Extracranial (head and neck) and paraspinal vascular malformations
  • Head and neck tumors
  • Intracranial atherosclerosis
  • Juvenile nasopharyngeal tumor
  • Meningiomas
  • Nosebleeds
  • Paragangliomas
  • Stroke
  • Spinal vascular malformations
  • Traumatic vascular lesions
  • Vasospasm
  • Vertebral body tumors
  • Vertebral body compression fractures


Please leave comments and links on this technology.
Greg Olson ::   Partner / Ubiquity

Specializing in generating demand for medical technology and bioscience companies.  What do you demand?

http://www.ubiquitygroup.com/             Follow Ubiquity on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ubiquity

Phone: 303-962-8700        Email: greg@ubiquitygroup.com

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Medical Word of the Day: Endothelium

3-5-2009: Topic: Bioscience:

Medical Word of the Day: Endothelium:

The endothelium is the thin layer of cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels, forming an interface between the circulating blood in the lumen and the rest of the vessel wall. Endothelial cells line the entire circulatory system, from the heart to the smallest capillary. Science within our body is amazing as these cells help reduce the turbulence created by the blood flowing through our system and thus allowing the blood to go further.

Artery cross section showing endothelial cells

German researchers are using new imaging technology to watch single cells give rise to blood cells. This technology may one day allow them to discover how to replicate the creation of blood cells in the lab and be able to supply this blood for patients needing transfusions.

See more on this article: New Technology sheds light on rise of blood cells.

A quick search resulted in a company that manufactures cultured vascular endothelial cells and cell culture products.
VEC Technologies, Inc. is a manufacture of normal endothelial cells and endothelial cell related products.

Greg Olson : : Ubiquity :: 303-962-8700

Email for additional information: greg@ubiquitygroup.com

Specializing in generating demand for medical technology and bioscience companies

What do you demand?

Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ubiquity

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Medical Word of the Day: Neuromodulation / Neurostimulation

3-2-2009 Topic: Neuro

Medical Word of the Day: Neuromodulation

Electrical stimulation of a peripheral nerve, the spinal cord, or the brain for relief of pain, also means the effect of a neuromodulator on another neuron.

Neuromodulator definition: Any of a various substances, as certain hormones and amino acids, that influence the function of neurons but do not act as neurotransmitters.

Companies are using medical devices to stimulate both the brain and the stomache to control over-eating.EntroMedics, Inc and Leptos Biomedical Inc. are developing devices to help obesity. Neuromodulation is also called neurostimulation is still an emerging science and unforseen consequences of manipulating the body’s chemical-electrical nervous system are unknown.

3-5-2009: Note: One of my LinkedIn contacts referred me to Nevro. Not much on their website but indicate they are working on novel neuromodulation therapies for multiple indications.

Greg Olson : : Ubiquity :: 303-962-8700

Email for additional information: greg@ubiquitygroup.com

Specializing in generating demand for medical technology and bioscience companies

What do you demand?

Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ubiquity

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