Hospital Management

Daily Newsletter

07 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

A German hospital has ordered a Navigated Brain Stimulation (NBS) 5 system, developed by Finnish medical technology company Nexstim.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved and CE-marked system comprises a mobile cart, TMS stimulator, stimulation coil and a channel EMG.

A stereotactic camera along with an NBS computer system equipped with dual 23in displays, PC and NBS software are included.

Tracking tools including NBS head tracker, coil tracker and digitising pen are designed for ease of use.

Besides, the system features a three-pedal foot switch, an optional cooling unit, and an electronically-adjustable patient chair.

Its motor and speech mapping features enable the presurgical mapping of cortices of the brain.

With therapeutic capabilities, the system can also be used in treating major depression and chronic neuropathic pain.

Nexstim CEO Mikko Karvinen said: “In Germany, we have traditionally seen widespread interest towards our technology among neurosurgical professionals.

“We are happy to have such an established user community including key opinion leaders, and to see that there is continuing demand for combined system solutions in the German market.”

Nexstim’s portfolio also includes a non-invasive brain stimulation technology for navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS).

Its 3D navigation is claimed to provide accurate and personalised targeting of the TMS to the specific area of the brain.

Healthcare companies are hesitant to invest in the metaverse

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the healthcare industry to rapid digitalization. Increased use of telehealth, telepresence systems, remote diagnostics, predictive AI, and wearable technology is changing how healthcare is delivered and improving patient outcomes. Emerging technologies such as AR and VR are becoming increasingly routine for professional training, surgical assistance, and treatment of psychological and neurological disorders. In the pharma and medical devices industries, AR, VR, and AI are rapidly accelerating drug discovery and manufacturing and generating supply chain efficiencies. New digital opportunities will look to build upon disruptive technologies. However, affordability is a limiting factor to widespread adoption. Per GlobalData estimates, the metaverse market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 33% between 2023 and 2030. Although metaverse technologies could reinvent healthcare approaches and bring new experiences to healthcare providers and patients, adoption is still at an early stage. There are currently few use cases in the healthcare industry. The metaverse needs to overcome major challenges for healthcare, including regulation and data privacy concerns. Evidence of proven use cases and participation by a critical mass of users are imperative to drive a shift in metaverse investment.