Medtronic Wins Category I CPT Codes for Altaviva and Symplicity Spyral

Inspire Medical Systems announced that the American Medical Association's CPT Editorial Panel approved new Category I CPT codes for procedures involving a single lead and implantable pulse generator, including the company's recent launch of the Inspire V system. The new codes, effective Jan. 1, 2028, establish a dedicated coding framework for hypoglossal nerve stimulation procedures and are expected to create a clearer, more consistent pathway for coding and reimbursement while reducing administrative burden for hospitals and physicians. The company credited support from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the International Surgical Sleep Society in seeking a permanent coding solution. The codes now enter the Medicare valuation process, with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expected to weigh recommendations from the AMA Relative Value Scale Update Committee; Inspire Medical expects CMS to publish proposed valuations in July 2027 and final valuations in November 2027. Inspire V, a closed-loop implantable device designed to synchronize with patients' natural breathing to help maintain an open airway during sleep, has treated more than 140,000 patients over more than a decade of clinical experience. INSP stock has lost 1.1% since the announcement on Thursday and is down 24.2% year to date, against the industry's 18.4% growth and the S&P 500's 12.3% rise, with a market capitalization of $2.02 billion.

NeuroPace reported a second-quarter 2026 loss per share of 18 cents, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.3% and improving from a loss of 30 cents a year earlier. Revenue rose 17.1% year over year to $22.8 million, led by the RNS System, whose revenues totaled $22.5 million, up 21.3%, while service revenues fell to $302,000 from $937,000 a year ago following the DIXI Medical wind-down. Adjusted gross margin contracted 60 basis points to 83.4%, and the adjusted operating loss narrowed to $2.8 million from $5 million. Management raised full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $99.5-$101.5 million from $99-$101 million, reflecting expected service revenues of about $1 million, up from roughly $500,000 previously, while the RNS revenue growth outlook remains 21%-23%. The company also lifted its adjusted gross margin outlook to 82%-83% and narrowed its expected adjusted EBITDA loss to $7.5 million-$8.5 million, though consensus estimates have trended downward over the past month.

Brain-computer interface technology is accelerating its move from the laboratory into clinical and consumer markets. The global market is expected to exceed 360 billion yuan by 2035, with China likely to account for more than 30 percent of that share. Neuralink has announced completion of the world's first brain-computer interface surgery implanted through the dura mater, while China's first subdural implantable brain-computer interface system has also begun national Class III medical device registration clinical trials. Companies listed in both A-share and Hong Kong markets, such as Wision Medical, Sanbo Brain Hospital, and MicroPort NeuroTech, have already achieved commercial revenue through non-invasive rehabilitation, clinical data assets, and implantable products. On the policy front, brain-computer interfaces have been included in the future industries section of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong have introduced targeted support policies, and an industry standardization technical committee has also been established. Institutions expect 2027 to become the first year of commercial explosion for brain-computer interfaces.