RE: getting through the bbb.... Any BBB crossing technology with promise is garnering huge attention and understandably so. But Medtronic has a hard row to hoe... and although its approach looks very promising, it has many limitations. As Risky and others have highlighted there are valid concerns with respect to battery powered mechanical devices... such as potential equipment failure, immediate service/replacement access, maintenance, patient device training, invasive procedures and infection control, and especially cost. Imagine the cost Medtromic has had just designing and advancing such sophisiticated engineering...costs that have to be recovered with profit. Also, any new device takes a long time to get to market and requires a sales force on the ground needed to sell the technology over and over again in every corner of the market to doctors and nurses. It ain't esy being green.
Now, if that were on the market and I were a candidate for a new therapy that looked promising, I would leap at the chance.
Unfortunately for Medtronic, I would say it will be a long effort. Comparing Medtronic's new device deliivery system to the Transcend therapeutic breakthrough though, is just plain unfair to them.
Good post Philly. We all need to keep abreast of any new BBB news.