The medtech giant plans to use this system to streamline implantation for electrodes use with its Proclaim DRG neurostimulation system. It designed its new system to streamline the procedure when doctors implant them in patients suffering from complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) Type 1 and causalgia (CRPS Type 2) of the lower extremities.
Proclaim DRG targets and stimulates the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cluster of nerve cells found along the spine. This cluster controls pain signals from specific areas of the body, including the pelvis, groin, hip, knee, ankle and foot. Proclaim DRG is the first and only DRG technology approved to treat CRPS of the lower limbs, Abbott said in a news release. It also picked up expanded MRI labeling in January 2024.
Abbott’s DRG neurostimulation system features a small battery (implantable pulse generator or IPG) that produces electrical stimulation. Its thin wires, known as leads, deliver the stimulation to the targeted area. The delivery system enables physicians to carefully navigate and access the precise anatomy of the DRG when placing the electrodes. Abbott designed the next-generation system for ease of use with enhanced durability and maneuverability, streamlining implantations.
“Research shows treating CRPS with targeted DRG neurostimulation results in significantly better outcomes in terms of pain relief and functional improvements than traditional spinal cord stimulation approaches,” said Dr. Allen Burton, medical director of Neuromodulation at Abbott. “Abbott is continually working to improve DRG technology to better assist physicians in improving patient outcomes.
“The easier the procedure, the more patients will benefit from it, helping them to live more active, fuller lives with their chronic pain under control.”
