Coordinated Efforts of Medical Community and Engineers Reap Improved Patient Care
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – NEW YORK – November 2010 – The North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS), comprised of over 600 members from the medical community, is noting the end of the “Decade of Pain Control and Research,” an era announced by Congress in 2000. During this time there have been great strides made in the management of pain through neuromodulation. According to Dr. Joshua Prager, MD, MS, former president of NANS, “Once thought of as futuristic, neuromodulation, the implantation of half-dollar size battery operated, pain control systems have revolutionized the way pain sufferers can live.”
Neuromodulation is among the most rapidly growing fields in medicine today. Simply explained, it is the targeting of low levels of electrical pulses or micro-doses of medicine to the nervous system structures either in the spinal cord or periphery to block pain signals from the brain. This application to the nervous system relieves pain, improves function and quality of life.
First introduced over 40 years ago, the past ten years have seen dynamic improvements to the modality through the coordinated efforts of medical professionals and engineers throughout the world. Some of these changes include:
Patient-Centric Design and Control: Patients are searching for treatment options for chronic problems and debilitating diseases. Being able to provide therapy that can be customized for each patient is extremely important to the success of neurostimulation therapy. Patients with chronic pain may present very different symptoms, both in severity and location, which complicates product design. New technology incorporates design requirements that are compatible with a broad range of patients while allowing customization via surgical procedure, physician programming, or patient interface, to help optimize the therapeutic outcome. These devices utilize a simple easy-to-use patient programmer that enables the patient to change programs within preset parameters and turn the device on and off. This empowers patients to be actively involved in the management of their pain.
In addition to having the ability to control their therapy, the development of small low profile devices has been beneficial for patients whose body type requires a smaller device. For these patients, the thin profile, implant depth and small size allow these devices to be placed more discreetly, potentially making them less noticeable and more comfortable.
Miniaturization of implants: Many neurostimulation companies have opted to develop devices with rechargeable power systems. These systems have an internal battery that is recharged by an external power source. The rechargeable design allows for miniaturization of the implanted IPG. Approximately the size of a thick U.S. silver dollar, this rechargeable device treats chronic pain of the trunk or limbs and pain from failed back surgery.Patients want a therapy that will control their pain, but they don’t want the device to be noticeable. Miniaturization of neurostimulators has provided them with devices that are more comfortable, as well as cosmetically appealing, while still delivering sustainable therapy for many years.
Advancements in the microelectronics housed within a neurostimulator enable these devices to meet a wide variety of power, speed, processing, and memory requirements, all with strict quality and reliability performance.
Development of new electronic leads: Initial electrode designs were transferred from cardiac pace makers and defibrillation lead designs which meant they were not optimized for neurological anatomy. Designs have since evolved to allow for greater flexibility in programming. These improved designs can provide more directional control of the therapy. Additionally, new electrode designs are constructed to require less power consumption while still achieving the desired therapy.
The leads low impedance design contributes to the system longevity, durability and efficient energy delivery. Electrode size and spacing is optimized to provide the right balance of coverage and specificity.
Advanced programming for implants: Customized programming allows clinicians to program patients’ implant for a wide variety of needs. Advancements in this area include the ability to manage up to multiple pain areas simultaneously, address complex pain patterns while maintaining the capacity to program for patients with different needs. Programming has improved in tandem with the development of more advanced neurostimulation leads. These leads arrays provide more programming options than systems a decade ago. Together, lead design and programming capabilities have lead to the development of a more sustainable therapy. Patients who in the past might have required re-operation are now able to have their implant reprogrammed, often resulting in a return to successful pain relief.
Neuromodulation can relieve chronic back pain, pain from cancer and other nerve injuries, including Parkinson’s Disease, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) greatly improving the quality of life for patients.
Over the past ten years, patients have become better informed advocates through the use of the internet. The availability of sourced, accurate information online has provided patients with the ability to reach out to appropriate medical professionals to learn about ways to improve their physical difficulties.
About the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS):
The North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) is dedicated to being the premier organization representing neuromodulation. NANS promotes multidisciplinary collaboration among clinicians, scientists, engineers, and others to advance neuromodulation through education, research, innovation and advocacy. Through these efforts NANS seeks to promote and advance the highest quality patient care. http://www.neuromodulation.org/
Key facts on neuromodulation: alleviates or lessens pain without putting patients into a “drug fog”; improves the quality of life for patients in pain; devices can be “test driven”; devices can be removed; devices distribute micro-doses of medicine or controlled minor electrical rhythms; is FDA approved and has been used in practice for more than two decades; is covered by most medical insurance and Medicare programs.
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