Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) announced today that the FDA approved its next-generation InterStim X recharge-free device.
The medtech giant has made the latest sacral neuromodulation (SNM) therapy product from the InterStim portfolio available immediately. The recharge-free InterStim X and the rechargeable InterStim Micro are both used to treat overactive bladder (OAB), chronic fecal incontinence (FI) and non-obstructive urinary retention.
InterStim X features proprietary fifth-generation battery chemistry designed to offer more than 10 years of battery life without recharging, increasing freedom and decreasing maintenance for the patient. Medtronic said in a news release that, with low-energy settings, the device may last for up to 15 years.
Medtronic added that InterStim X, along with InterStim Micro, features the first and only smart programmer. This programming device looks like a typical smartphone and allows patients to discreetly and independently adjust their choice of 11 therapy settings at home or on the go.
The platforms include SureScan technology that enables full-body 1.5T and 3T MRI scans under certain conditions without requiring impedance checks.
“We’re on a mission to expand access to proven nerve stimulation therapies through technology advancements like InterStim X, InterStim Micro, SureScan MRI technology and the smart programmer, by offering patients personalized therapy options and by reaching them through direct-to-consumer marketing,” Medtronic President of Pelvic Health Mira Sahney said in the release. “As we celebrate 25 years of InterStim this year, we’re bullish about our next chapter in patient-focused therapy innovation.”