antiquity
01-27-2003, 06:16 PM
New Medtronic Neurostimulation Lead Extends Life of Its `Pain Pacemakers'; Extension Enhances Patient Comfort
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2003--
Pisces Z Quad products make proven therapy more
cost-effective and easier to deliver
Reinforcing its reputation as the preeminent pioneer of medical technology for pain management, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), today announced the introduction of two new products that make neurostimulation as a treatment option for chronic pain of the trunk or limbs more appealing to physicians, patients and payors: the Pisces Z Quad low-impedance lead and low-profile extension.
Using "low energy-loss technology," the new lead extends the battery life of Medtronic's leading line of "pain pacemakers" by up to 40 percent, reducing the frequency with which the neurostimulator needs to be replaced and improving the cost-effectiveness of the therapy. With its lower profile, the new extension -- used to bridge the lead and the neurostimulator -- facilitates the implant procedure and adds to patients' long-term comfort.
"As a busy pain specialist, I'm excited to begin offering the Pisces Z Quad lead and extension to my patients who qualify for treatment with neurostimulation," said Dr. Timothy Deer, president and chief executive officer of The Center for Pain Relief, a consortium of interdisciplinary clinics in Virginia and West Virginia. "These new products from Medtronic will save me and my patients valuable time, which translates into cost savings for the healthcare system. Because of their innovative design, the new lead and extension are easier to implant and more comfortable to live with."
Technological improvements that reduce impedance along the electrical conduction pathway allow the new lead to deliver pain-blocking impulses from Medtronic's neurostimulators at lower energy levels and extend the devices' battery life by 10 percent to 40 percent at mid-range settings. (As an engineering symbol, Z stands for impedance.)
In a typical case, a patient using a Medtronic Itrel(R) 3, Synergy(TM) or Synergy Versitrel(TM) neurostimulator in combination with the new Pisces Z Quad lead stands to gain several additional months of therapy before his or her physician would need to replace the system because of battery depletion. "With the additional longevity accorded by the low-impedance lead, some chronic pain patients with high power requirements now qualify for treatment with neurostimulation," explained Dr. Deer, who performed one of the first implants of the new products after their approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this month.
Medtronic's neurostimulation systems consist of a programmable, battery-powered pulse generator -- similar in size to a cardiac pacemaker -- that originates carefully controlled electrical impulses; an extension that carries the impulses from the implant site under the skin of the abdomen; and one or two leads, each with four individually programmable electrodes that deliver the impulses to points near the spinal cord where they block pain signals traveling to the brain.
Using a hand-held programmer, the patient can control the level of stimulation (within limits set by the physician) and turn the system on and off. Similar technology designed for use by clinicians allows the therapy to be adjusted without surgery to adapt to changes in the patient's pain over time.
"We are committed to improving the practice of pain management with medical technology," said Carol Barnett, vice president and general manager of Medtronic's Global Pain Management business, "and that includes a commitment to evolving superior leads and extensions for our neurostimulation systems."
Barnett noted that the low-profile extension, which connects the lead to the neurostimulator, is two-thirds the diameter of its predecessors, allowing it to be slipped more easily under the skin from the neurostimulator in the abdominal area. After implant, she added, the new extension is designed to be more comfortable for the patient while sitting or sleeping.
Patients who have success with neurostimulation experience a 50 percent to 70 percent reduction in their pain and an improved ability to perform normal activities of daily life. In addition to being adjustable, the treatment can be discontinued at any time and its effects reversed.
Chronic pain, defined as pain that persists or recurs for more than six months, afflicts about 25 percent of the U.S. population, or approximately 75 million people. Caused by a variety of injuries and diseases, the condition costs the country an estimated $100 billion in annual medical costs, including 515 million lost workdays and 40 million doctor visits. It most commonly affects the lower back and legs, the areas for which Medtronic neurostimulation systems have now been used for more than 175,000 patients worldwide since 1981.
In collaboration with patient advocacy groups and legendary entertainer Jerry Lewis, Medtronic is the sponsor of a public education initiative called "Tame the Pain." Launched in November 2002, the campaign seeks to connect chronic pain sufferers with pain specialists. More information about the campaign is available online at www.tamethepain.com (http://www.tamethepain.com) and by calling 1-866-617-PAIN.
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), (http://www.medtronic.com),) headquartered in Minneapolis, is the world's leading medical technology company, providing lifelong solutions for people with chronic disease. Its Internet address is www.medtronic.com (http://www.medtronic.com). More information about Medtronic's pain therapies can be found at www.medtronicpain.com (http://www.medtronicpain.com) and by calling Patient Services at 1-800-510-6735.
Any statements made about the company's anticipated financial results and regulatory approvals are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 26, 2002. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.
Editor's Note: Additional information, photography and video related to pain management with medical technology are available online to the media at:
-- http://www.medtronic.com/newsroom/media_kits_PainTherapies.html
-- http://www.tamethepainnewsroom.com/
CONTACT:
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis
Media:
Joe McGrath, 763/505-2634
joseph.mcgrath@medtronic.com
or
Investors:
Kevin Lee, 763/505-2695
kevin.lee@medtronic.com
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2003--
Pisces Z Quad products make proven therapy more
cost-effective and easier to deliver
Reinforcing its reputation as the preeminent pioneer of medical technology for pain management, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), today announced the introduction of two new products that make neurostimulation as a treatment option for chronic pain of the trunk or limbs more appealing to physicians, patients and payors: the Pisces Z Quad low-impedance lead and low-profile extension.
Using "low energy-loss technology," the new lead extends the battery life of Medtronic's leading line of "pain pacemakers" by up to 40 percent, reducing the frequency with which the neurostimulator needs to be replaced and improving the cost-effectiveness of the therapy. With its lower profile, the new extension -- used to bridge the lead and the neurostimulator -- facilitates the implant procedure and adds to patients' long-term comfort.
"As a busy pain specialist, I'm excited to begin offering the Pisces Z Quad lead and extension to my patients who qualify for treatment with neurostimulation," said Dr. Timothy Deer, president and chief executive officer of The Center for Pain Relief, a consortium of interdisciplinary clinics in Virginia and West Virginia. "These new products from Medtronic will save me and my patients valuable time, which translates into cost savings for the healthcare system. Because of their innovative design, the new lead and extension are easier to implant and more comfortable to live with."
Technological improvements that reduce impedance along the electrical conduction pathway allow the new lead to deliver pain-blocking impulses from Medtronic's neurostimulators at lower energy levels and extend the devices' battery life by 10 percent to 40 percent at mid-range settings. (As an engineering symbol, Z stands for impedance.)
In a typical case, a patient using a Medtronic Itrel(R) 3, Synergy(TM) or Synergy Versitrel(TM) neurostimulator in combination with the new Pisces Z Quad lead stands to gain several additional months of therapy before his or her physician would need to replace the system because of battery depletion. "With the additional longevity accorded by the low-impedance lead, some chronic pain patients with high power requirements now qualify for treatment with neurostimulation," explained Dr. Deer, who performed one of the first implants of the new products after their approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this month.
Medtronic's neurostimulation systems consist of a programmable, battery-powered pulse generator -- similar in size to a cardiac pacemaker -- that originates carefully controlled electrical impulses; an extension that carries the impulses from the implant site under the skin of the abdomen; and one or two leads, each with four individually programmable electrodes that deliver the impulses to points near the spinal cord where they block pain signals traveling to the brain.
Using a hand-held programmer, the patient can control the level of stimulation (within limits set by the physician) and turn the system on and off. Similar technology designed for use by clinicians allows the therapy to be adjusted without surgery to adapt to changes in the patient's pain over time.
"We are committed to improving the practice of pain management with medical technology," said Carol Barnett, vice president and general manager of Medtronic's Global Pain Management business, "and that includes a commitment to evolving superior leads and extensions for our neurostimulation systems."
Barnett noted that the low-profile extension, which connects the lead to the neurostimulator, is two-thirds the diameter of its predecessors, allowing it to be slipped more easily under the skin from the neurostimulator in the abdominal area. After implant, she added, the new extension is designed to be more comfortable for the patient while sitting or sleeping.
Patients who have success with neurostimulation experience a 50 percent to 70 percent reduction in their pain and an improved ability to perform normal activities of daily life. In addition to being adjustable, the treatment can be discontinued at any time and its effects reversed.
Chronic pain, defined as pain that persists or recurs for more than six months, afflicts about 25 percent of the U.S. population, or approximately 75 million people. Caused by a variety of injuries and diseases, the condition costs the country an estimated $100 billion in annual medical costs, including 515 million lost workdays and 40 million doctor visits. It most commonly affects the lower back and legs, the areas for which Medtronic neurostimulation systems have now been used for more than 175,000 patients worldwide since 1981.
In collaboration with patient advocacy groups and legendary entertainer Jerry Lewis, Medtronic is the sponsor of a public education initiative called "Tame the Pain." Launched in November 2002, the campaign seeks to connect chronic pain sufferers with pain specialists. More information about the campaign is available online at www.tamethepain.com (http://www.tamethepain.com) and by calling 1-866-617-PAIN.
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), (http://www.medtronic.com),) headquartered in Minneapolis, is the world's leading medical technology company, providing lifelong solutions for people with chronic disease. Its Internet address is www.medtronic.com (http://www.medtronic.com). More information about Medtronic's pain therapies can be found at www.medtronicpain.com (http://www.medtronicpain.com) and by calling Patient Services at 1-800-510-6735.
Any statements made about the company's anticipated financial results and regulatory approvals are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 26, 2002. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.
Editor's Note: Additional information, photography and video related to pain management with medical technology are available online to the media at:
-- http://www.medtronic.com/newsroom/media_kits_PainTherapies.html
-- http://www.tamethepainnewsroom.com/
CONTACT:
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis
Media:
Joe McGrath, 763/505-2634
joseph.mcgrath@medtronic.com
or
Investors:
Kevin Lee, 763/505-2695
kevin.lee@medtronic.com