St. Jude Medical received FDA approval for the world’s first upgradeable neurostimulator for chronic pain management. Modern implants are designed to be used for years, while the technology within them, and especially the software that powers them, keeps improving. While we are able to upgrade our computers and even our cars with the latest software updates, being able to use newly approved code in already implanted devices can bring great benefit to patients without going under the knife and at little cost.
The Protégé spinal cord stimulator is the smallest, longest lasting rechargeable neurostimulator for chronic pain, having a projected battery lifetime of 10 years and no automatic shutoff at the end of its expected life. It can be upgraded any time as new software comes out with a simple trip to the doctor’s office.
Press release: World’s First and Only Upgradeable Spinal Cord Stimulation System Receives FDA Approval…