Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
Read more health news
Stent System Approved to Reduce Stroke Risk
|
FRIDAY, Sept. 16 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given Abbott Laboratories approval to sell a stent and filter system that reduces stroke risk in people with narrowed neck arteries, The New York Times reported. This system includes a metal mesh stent that props open the neck artery and a filter that traps loose bits of fat or blood clots before they can reach the small blood vessels in the brain. If those small blood vessels are blocked by fat or blood clots, circulation can be cut off and lead to a stroke. A neck stent and filter system developed by Guidant Corp. received FDA approval last year, The Times reported. These devices -- called carotid stents and embolic filters -- cost more than $3,000 per kit. Currently, the worldwide market for these devices is estimated to be about $130 million a year. However, some experts predict that the devices will eventually account for $500 million to $1 billion of the worldwide stent market, The Times reported. To learn more, visit the Abbott Labs Web site.
Last Updated: Sept. 16, 2005 |