Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) said today that Health Canada approved its Intellis spinal cord stimulator, touting it as the smallest such device on the market today.
The device is designed to deliver mild electrical stimulation to nerves in the epidural space to treat chronic pain. The FDA approved Intellis in September 2017 and the system won CE Mark approval in the European Union in November of that year.
“Chronic pain affects up to 19% of Canadians,” Medtronic Canada restorative therapies senior director Peter Tomashewski said in prepared remarks. “Intellis is an important innovation in the field of SCS for both physicians and patients alike. Transformative features and standardized guidance create a balanced approach enabling us to meet our goal of helping people with chronic pain have more freedom to do the things they love.”
“Persistent neuropathic pain is challenging to treat and our goal should be to restore our patient’s mobility and improve their quality of life with effective long-term pain relief,” added Dr. Sean Christie of Halifax’s Dalhousie University. “Considering the recommendations of Choosing Wisely Canada, it’s more important than ever to find effective, long-term, non-opioid solutions. The availability of the Intellis spinal cord stimulator offers new possibilities for some patients struggling with debilitating pain.”