Medtronic 2008 Annual Report Download - page 20

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At a Glance
What it is:
Hydrocephalus is a chronic neurological
condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid
builds up in the brain.
Symptoms:
In infants and children, common symptoms
include nausea, headaches and vision problems.
In adults, it causes difficulty walking, poor
bladder control and dementia.
Medtronic treatments:
Fixed-pressure and adjustable-pressure
shunts that divert excess fluid away from
the brain, usually into the abdominal cavity.
Neuronavigation and advanced visualization
of the brain are used intra-operatively to
determine the optimal pathway and desired
location for the shunt. The shunt is implanted
through a small incision on the head; the
procedure usually takes less than an hour.
HYDROCEPHALUS
Market Growth Through Increased Awareness
Medtronic is a market leader in hydrocephalus shunting, largely because of our technological expertise.
Our shunts use a soft silicone that is easy on the body and remains durable for years. We also offer an
adjustable-pressure shunt that makes it easy to manage the condition over time. Using a magnet and
hand-held reader, clinicians can non-invasively adjust among five pressure settings during an office
visit—without the need for another surgery. This product is quickly becoming the standard of care among
neurosurgeons.
While hydrocephalus is usually diagnosed quickly in infants and children, that’s not the case with older
adults. The adult symptoms—unsteady walking and dementia—are often mistaken for other age-related
conditions, such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease. Yet treating the condition early is critical to achieving
the best clinical outcomes, so there’s tremendous growth potential by increasing awareness and accurate
diagnoses of the adult condition. To that end, we’re working closely with the Hydrocephalus Association
to educate neurologists and other referring physicians. We’re also keeping an eye on potential strategic
partnerships with companies that have emerging hydrocephalus diagnostic technologies.
George Jones
Raleigh, North Carolina
Shunt to treat hydrocephalus
At George Jones’ 1-year checkup, doctors noticed his head was larger
than average. After several tests, they discovered a cyst and removed it.
But soon after surgery, George had seizures and became extremely
lethargic. After several sleepless nights, his parents learned meningitis
was obstructing the flow of George’s brain fluid. He needed a shunt to drain
the fluid. “I told the doctors we wanted the Medtronic programmable
Strata valve with a Delta chamber,” said George’s dad, Rob, a Medtronic
employee who sells our shunts. “It allows fluid flow to be adjusted, if
needed, as George grows.” Now Rob and his wife are resting easy as they
see George chasing balls and talking like a typical toddler. “We feel
better knowing our son has a product that is giving him the best quality
of life possible.”
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