Update: Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 – The headline for this story mistakenly reported that the AdaptiveStim system treats DBS pain. It is for treatment of chronic pain.
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) unveiled clinical data in support of its recently cleared AdaptiveStim pain management implant with RestoreSensor at the North American Neuromodulation Society meeting this week.
The system uses motion sensor technology to adjust the delivery amount of stimulation based on the patient’s body position, rather than the traditional method in which patients use a remote control to alter stimulation levels.
AdaptiveStim and RestoreSensor won FDA clearance last month for treatment of chronic back and/or leg pain, masking pain signals to the brain by delivering electrical pulses from an implantable pulse generator.
Study results from 76 patients showed that more than 86 percent experienced pain relief without feeling inconvenienced.
AdaptiveStim patients also reported improved movement ability and less pain while changing posture. At the end of the trial, more than 90 percent said they planned to use AdaptiveStim, some by leaving control to the automated system and some by manually turning the device on an off to ease pain.
"This study clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of position-adaptive stimulation technology in providing pain relief and convenience to patients suffering from chronic pain, so they can lead more normal lives," trial investigator Dr. David Schultz said in prepared remarks.
More than 200,000 patients worldwide currently use Medtronic neurostimulation therapy for chronic pain, according to the company.
St. Jude Medical Inc. (NYSE:STJ) also has its hand in the global pain management market. Its Epiducer neurostimulation therapy system won CE Mark approval in the European Union in May 2010 and launched in Australia earlier this year.
Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE:BSX) nearly sold their neurostimulation division to Stryker Corp. (NYSE:SYK) late last year, but the Natick, Mass.-based medical device maker spiked the deal when the bid didn’t rise high enough. The company then doubled down on its pain management division with a $78 million buyout of Intelect Medical Inc., developer of the Guide deep-brain stimulation programming system. Boston Scientific won FDA clearance for lead anchors for its partially implantable Precision Plus PNS device in March.