USA— Breaking new ground in pain management, Medtronic has unveiled its pioneering Inceptiv spinal cord stimulator (SCS), which has recently secured the coveted CE mark approval.
Representing a significant leap in the field, Inceptiv is a closed-loop, rechargeable SCS designed to tackle chronic pain with unprecedented precision and adaptability.
This innovation not only marks Medtronic’s foray into closed-loop SCS technology but also promises to revolutionize the way patients experience pain relief, seamlessly aligning therapy with the rhythms of daily life.
Elevating pain relief
Medtronic’s Inceptiv SCS, heralded as a breakthrough in pain management, showcases a groundbreaking closed-loop capability – a first in the company’s SCS device lineup.
This cutting-edge feature harnesses the power of individual biological signals, orchestrating stimulation adjustments on a moment-to-moment basis.
As a result, the therapy remains in perfect synergy with the patient’s dynamic lifestyle.
Traditionally, SCS therapy can be hampered by certain movements that inadvertently trigger uncomfortable stimulation.
This can lead patients to dial down their device’s stimulation output, inadvertently undermining the efficacy of their therapy.
In stark contrast, Inceptiv redefines the game by monitoring the body’s neural response a remarkable 50 times per second, ensuring that stimulation adapts to the body’s needs.
During moments of heightened neural response – like a cough or sneeze – Inceptiv dynamically reduces stimulation.
As the neural response subsides, the device seamlessly returns stimulation to the pre-set optimal level, all while patients go about their daily activities.
Central to Inceptiv’s prowess is its closed-loop technology fortified by evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs), a culmination of Medtronic’s decades-long research.
This closed-loop capability empowers the device to actively listen to and respond to signals coursing along the spinal cord.
A pivotal clinical study underscored the efficacy of this approach, with nine out of ten patients favoring the closed-loop option over fixed-output stimulation.
Dr. Ash Sharan, Chief Medical Officer of the Neuromodulation unit at Medtronic, emphasized, “This approval marks the beginning of a new era of pain relief, using sensing technology to listen to the unique biological signals of each patient.”
The Inceptiv advantage
Beyond its revolutionary closed-loop capacity, the Inceptiv system boasts unique attributes that set it apart.
It is the sole SCS system in Europe offering both full-body 1.5T and 3T MRI access – a crucial feature given that most SCS users require an MRI within the first five years of device placement.
Additionally, Inceptiv claims the title of the world’s thinnest SCS device, measuring a mere 6 mm. Furthermore, its rechargeable battery can be fully replenished in just an hour.
While Inceptiv is poised to make its commercial debut across Europe in the upcoming months, its availability remains pending in the United States.
Dr. Dirk Rasche, from the Department of Neurosurgery at the University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein in Lübeck, Germany, hailed the significance of Inceptiv’s closed-loop feature.
He noted, “This latest generation of rechargeable neurostimulator represents a significant leap forward in SCS therapy and a milestone of modern neuromodulation.”
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