How our technology can help people overcome the challenges of chronic pain to reclaim the simple moments they cherish
Chronic pain can be debilitating ― keeping patients from what they love most. But Medtronic engineers are making progress over pain with viable alternatives to prescription drugs, helping patients like Arlene Velez-Diaz overcome their challenges.
Arlene was one of more than 50 million people1 — over twice the population of Texas — in the United States alone who suffer from chronic pain. But she wanted to return to her artwork, and to her work at a local middle school. More importantly, she wanted to be an active, vital grandmother to her grandson, able to keep in step without pain.
Arlene tried therapies, prescription drugs, and even surgery, all of which offered limited relief. In 2020 she met Dr. Candice Burnette, a pain management specialist, who proposed an alternative that could help Arlene get relief.
Dr. Burnette determined that Arlene would be a viable candidate for DTM™ spinal cord stimulation (SCS). A unique waveform delivered through the Intellis™ platform, an implantable stimulation technology, “It targets multiple areas of the patient's spinal cord using various energy waveforms,“ explained Dr. Burnette. And in fact, following the procedure the doctor saw not only a reduction in Arlene’s pain, but also an improvement in her function. Arlene “had 70% relief of her low-back pain — she was able to do more and needed less medications.”
Applying the insight at scale, Medtronic engineers adapted the remarkable findings into the Intellis™ platform. Engineers now directed the technology to send pulses to the spinal column, interrupting pain signals in the nervous system. The results have been significant. In a 12-month clinical study, 84% of patients experienced at least 50% back pain relief.3
DTM™ SCS was an important breakthrough, giving patients with chronic back pain more alternatives to opioids.
“[This therapy] is truly phenomenal,” said Hector Cantua, a senior principal field clinical engineer who works on the project. “Not only are we helping patients with chronic pain — we’re going beyond expectations.”
In a randomized controlled trial, Differential Target Multiplexed (DTM™) spinal cord stimulation therapy provided profound back pain relief in 69% of patients at 12 months.³
This testimonial is one individual’s experience and does not provide any indication, guide, warranty, or guarantee as to the response or experience other people may have using the device. Experiences can and do vary. Please talk to your doctor about your condition and the risks and benefits of Medtronic devices.
INDICATIONS Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is indicated as an aid in the management of chronic, intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs-including unilateral or bilateral pain. CONTRAINDICATIONS Diathermy - Energy from diathermy can be transferred through the implanted system and cause tissue damage resulting in severe injury or death. WARNINGS Sources of electromagnetic interference (e.g., defibrillation, electrocautery, MRI, RF ablation, and therapeutic ultrasound) can interact with the system, resulting in unexpected changes in stimulation, serious patient injury or death. An implanted cardiac device (e.g., pacemaker, defibrillator) may damage a neurostimulator, and electrical pulses from the neurostimulator may cause inappropriate response of the cardiac device. PRECAUTIONS Safety and effectiveness has not been established for pediatric use, pregnancy, unborn fetus, or delivery. Avoid activities that put stress on the implanted neurostimulation system components. Recharging a rechargeable neurostimulator may result in skin irritation or redness near the implant site. ADVERSE EVENTS May include: undesirable change in stimulation (uncomfortable, jolting or shocking); hematoma, epidural hemorrhage, paralysis, seroma, infection, erosion, device malfunction or migration, pain at implant site, loss of pain relief, and other surgical risks.
Refer to www.medtronic.com for product manuals for complete indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions and potential adverse events. Rx only. Rev 0119.
