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Connecting with Washington The Neurotechnology Industry Organization’s public policy day on March 29 [see article p7] was notable for a number of reasons. To begin with, it represents the first organized effort to promote neurotechnology in Washington. The group succeeded in arranging meetings with several senators, congress members, and agency directors. Senators John Kerry, Pete Domenici, and Mike Enzie were particularly receptive, according to NIO executive director Zack Lynch.

Neurotechnology Industry Organization Public Policy Tour Visits Capitol Hill Representatives from several neurotechnology firms and nonprofit organizations took part in a public policy tour on March 29 in Washington, D.C. The event was put together , as an effort to inform elected officials and policy makers about the opportunities and obstacles facing companies and organizations working to improve the lives of those with brain and nervous system illnesses.

Enhanced MRI Reveals Brain Connectivity Details , senior technical editor The resolution of non-invasive brain imaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging, has improved dramatically to reveal much about the structure of the brain. Further, so called functional MRI enables visualization in changes in blood oxygenation associated with neuronal metabolism and hence inferences about changes in neuronal activity.

Neurotech Executives Descend on Washington for NIO Public Policy Tour Nearly 40 executives from neuro­technology companies and organizations came to Washington, DC earlier this month for the 2008 Public Policy Tour sponsored . The second annual event enabled representatives from the neurotech industry to interact with legislators and regulators and gain a better understanding of how decisions are made in the nation’s capital.

Second-Generation Neurotech One of the measures of a new industry or technology is its ability to demonstrate longevity with a range of follow-on product enhancements that expand the original market and offer better performance for existing customers. , the neurotechnology industry is doing well, as evidenced issue. As tempting as it might be for manufacturers of neural prostheses and implanted neu…

New Competition in Neurostimulator Battery Market The market for power supplies for implanted neurostimulation devices has expanded considerably as existing players and new suppliers are developing new batteries with expanded capabilities and reduced size. EaglePicher Medical Power, the Surrey, BC manufacturer of batteries for medical devices, recently announced the successful qualification of the industry’s smallest implantable-grade medical battery.

Media and Mediocrity The neurotechnology industry, like other businesses, depends on an informed and enlightened press to spread its message. This is true for the trade press that covers technologies and markets, as well as the more general interest media such as newspapers, magazines, and television. While there has not always been an overwhelming display of interest and understanding of our indus…

Market Resuscitation Although venture capital investment in the neurotechnology industry was somewhat slow to develop in the early years of this industry, more recently, we have seen a number of VC firms take an active interest—and financial stake—in promising neurotech startups. Frequently, this investment has benefited ventures targeting relatively large markets, such as stroke, or obesity. This…

Flexible Electronics Promise New Neurotech Applications Researchers at a number of institutions in the U.S. and Europe are currently working on applications for flexible electronics, including several that may find their way into neurotechnology devices. Flexible electronic structures offer neural engineers the potential to bend, expand, or otherwise manipulate sensors and stimulation electrodes in nerve or muscle tissue in a more natural manner than is possible with rigid devices.

Afferent Corp. Targets Sensory Signals as Novel Neurorehabilitation Strategy ial director Afferent Corp. of Providence, RI, is pioneering a new class of neuromodulation devices that target afferent, or sensory, signals from the peripheral nervous system. Unlike most current neuromodulation devices that use electrical stimulation to activate the efferent neural pathways of the central nervous system…