St. Jude Medical recently announced it has been awarded a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its treatment of severe depression. The Minneapolis-based company enrolled its first patient April 4, as part of its BROADEN (TM)(Brodmann Area 25 Deep Brain Neuromodulation) Study, which is evaluating deep brain stimulation as a way to alleviate major depressive disorder, one of the most severe forms of depression.

"Depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. among illnesses, and this patent is a cornerstone in developing (a treatment)," says Chris Chavez, president, St. Jude ANS Division. "The BROADEN Study provides hope for a meaningful new therapy to the millions of patients still seeking treatment for their severe depression."

The BROADEN Study is a controlled, multi-site, blinded, clinical study of deep brain stimulation. This U.S. effort builds upon pioneering depression work conducted at the University of Toronto.
The Libra Deep Stimulation System, which is being evaluated in this study, is designed to deliver mild pulses of current from a device implanted near the collarbone and connected to small electrical leads placed at specific targets in the brain.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 21 million adults in the U.S. suffer from some kind of depressive disorder. Only about 80 percent can be successfully treated with current available therapies, leaving approximately 4 million adult Americans living with depression that does not respond to medications, psychotherapy or electroconvulsive therapy. The World Health Organization estimates 121 million people suffer from depression worldwide.

ABOUT ST. JUDE MEDICAL. The St. Paul-based company is dedicated to making life better for cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients through focusing on five areas: cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation, cardiac surgery, cardiology and neuromodulation. It employs approximately 12,000 people worldwide.

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