Spine stimulator from St. Jude Medical Inc. receives FDA approval

FDA recently approved St. Jude Medical’s Protégé spine stimulator for the treatment of chronic pain. The company describes the device as the first neurostimulation system equipped for upgrades without surgery.

“Spinal cord stimulation therapy can transform the quality of life for patients who are otherwise unable to find relief from their chronic pain,” Eric S. Fain, MD, group president of St. Jude Medical, stated in a company press release. “Protégé allows patients the opportunity to benefit from future therapies and features even after they receive their implanted system. This draws upon St. Jude Medical’s promise to the quality and durability of its products and our commitment to continuously innovating in the neuromodulation space.”

Patients with chronic pain who are implanted with the device can access therapies, stimulation modes, diagnostics or other features once approved through future software upgrades, according to the press release.

Protégé is described in the press release as “the world’s smallest neurostimulator to treat chronic pain of the trunk or limbs and pain from failed back surgery.”

“In the first 40 years of SCS we have seen advances in hardware, but limited progress in software and programming. This new device evolves with promising therapies,” Timothy R. Deer, MD, president and chief executive officer of the Center for Pain Relief in Charleston, W. Va., stated in the press release. “With its upgradeability, SCS patients can readily access newly approved stimulation methods, allowing the latest technology to be synced with their medical device. This will reduce additional surgeries and lower the cost of care.”