Medtronic won FDA approval and is releasing in the U.S. its Intellis spinal cord neurostimulation platform, which includes the world’s smallest fully implantable spinal cord neurostimulator. The system delivers both high-dose and low-dose therapy, depending on the patient’s needs, and tracks patient activity to help physicians improve how the therapy targets individual’s pain. It is made to wirelessly, and securely, interface with a Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablet which is used by the physician to adjust settings and set parameters that best address the patient’s needs. The same tablet can be used to upgrade the neurostimulator implant with new versions of its firmware.
One thing in particular that Medtronic touts is its Overdrive technology, which makes it a reality to recharge the implant from null to full in about an hour. Moreover, the Samsung tablet provides estimates of how long the device will last on a charge based on selected parameters combined with data gathered previously on the patient’s activity levels and pain reduction requirements.
The implant is also safe to wear while inside an MRI machine, given certain conditions and as long as precautions are taken. Even full body scans are possible, so having the device does not limit the patient’s future diagnostic options.
The company hopes that neurostimulation will have an impact on the opioid epidemic that the United States, as well as many other countries, is currently dealing with.
Product page: Intellis Platform…
Via: Medtronic…