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Biotech / Medical : Cyberonics (cybx) epilepsy therapy recommonded -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: yehuda fruchter who wrote (185)	3/17/1998 5:17:00 PM
From: fred woodall	Respond to of 471

Wire: Cyberonics Inc. said Tuesday its electrical device of treating epilepsy won a favorable review from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield Association of America. The favorable review from technology evaluators at Blue Cross doesn't guarantee that insurers will pay for the device, which costs just under $10,000, but often sways them to do so, the company noted. Investors took the ruling as a positive sign, and sent the company's shares (CYBX) up $1.875, or 8.8%, to $23.125 at Tuesday's close. Nasdaq volume was 479,200 shares, compared with with average daily tunrover of 280,168. The device, called a vagus-nerve stimulator, was approved last year. It can be used with drugs or surgery to treat epileptics who suffer from severe, uncontrolled seizures. The device is a battery-powered generator that is implanted under the collarbone and wired to the vagus nerve in the neck. It delivers intermittent electrical signals to the brain to control seizures. If patients feel a siezure coming on, they pass a hand-held magnet over the device to trigger an antiseizure shock. Physicians can use an external programing system ot adjust stimulation settings. The batter must be replaced every three to five years.