St. Jude Wins Patent for Neurostimulation Therapy

St. Jude Medical has been awarded a patent for treating depression using neurostimulation therapy in an area of the brain known as Brodmann Area 25.

The area is the focus of the company’s BROADEN study, which is evaluating whether deep brain stimulation therapy can help people who suffer from major depressive disorder. The first patient was enrolled earlier this month and will receive the Libra deep brain stimulation system, St. Jude said.

The study is being conducted under an investigational device exemption, which was announced in February.