NMC Offers “Invisible” Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial

The Spine Hospital of Louisiana at The NeuroMedical Center is one of the first facilities in the state to allow patients to trial spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy with new Bluetooth® Wireless Technology and Apple™ Digital Devices. The St. Jude Medical™ Invisible Trial System is fully wireless and is designed to help chronic pain patients better assess SCS therapy prior to permanent implant.

For the past 12 years, The Spine Hospital of Louisiana has been offering SCS therapy as an effective treatment for managing chronic pain. The therapy relies on a small implanted device and thin wires (known as leads) to deliver low levels of electrical energy to mask or interrupt pain signals as they travel along nerve fibers to the brain, which reduces the sensation of pain. Before implanting a permanent device, a temporary spinal cord stimulator wire is placed in a patient, allowing the individual to evaluate the therapy. Often times, the complexity of traditional controllers and bulky cables discourages patients from opting for full implantation.

The new St. Jude Medical Invisible Trial System removes such barriers, allowing patients to more effectively evaluate SCS therapy with more patient-friendly equipment. Bluetooth wireless technology provides patients with a safe, secure, and wireless trial experience, while an iPod™ touch digital device serves as a patient controller that offers patients a simple, familiar platform to adjust their therapy.

One of the key system features lending to the discreet nature of the St. Jude Medical Invisible Trial System is the use of a small external pulse generator (EPG) as the system’s power source. Because the EPG uses Bluetooth wireless technology to communicate between the patient’s iPod touch controller and the stimulation system, the overall device profile has been reduced so the system can be worn discreetly under a patient’s clothing. The effect is that the system feels essentially “invisible” to the wearer, providing a more comfortable trial experience that allows patients to focus entirely on their system’s therapeutic impact during their trial.

“Spinal cord stimulation has worked wonders for so many of my chronic pain patients,” stated Dr. Samir K. Patel, Interventional Pain Specialist at The Spine Hospital of Louisiana. “Thanks to the ease of using an iPod, I’m confident the St. Jude Medical Invisible Trial System will allow more of my patients to evaluate the proven therapy and really experience what it’s like to live pain-free!”

The Spine Hospital of Louisiana at The NeuroMedical Center is home to five of the area’s most reputable Pain Management specialists: Dr. Scott D. Nyboer, Dr. John E. Nyboer, Dr. Martin A. Langston, Dr. Jyoti S. Pham and Dr. Samir K. Patel. Our specialists are experts in diagnosing and treating neck, back, and post-operative pain, tailoring therapy to the unique individual patient. New patients can schedule an appointment with a Pain Management specialist by calling The NeuroMedical Center Clinic at (225) 769-2200.

Note: Apple, iPod touch, and iPad mini are trademarks of Apple, Inc. Bluetooth is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

Categorised in: Clinic News, NMC News, Spine Hospital News