Neuromodulation Business Overview
Leading the Way
In the 1970s Medtronic’s research teams pioneered the development and application of neuromodulation techniques.
Neuromodulation is the targeted and regulated delivery of electrical pulses, pharmaceuticals and biologics to specific sites in the nervous system.
Today, our Neuromodulation business leads the way in implantable neurostimulation and drug delivery systems.
These techniques help manage:
- Movement disorders (including Parkinson’s, Essential Tremor and Dystonia)
- Chronic pain
- Spasticity
- Overactive bladder and urinary retention
- Faecal incontinence
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Gastroparesis
Deep Brain Stimulation
An innovative and proven technology that significantly improves motor function and reduces disability in patients suffering from the debilitating effects of Parkinson's disease, Essential Tremor and Dystonia. These devices use an implanted neurostimulation system to stimulate targeted nuclei in the brain to reduce symptoms associated with these movement disorders. After the implant is in place, stimulation can be non-invasively adjusted to meet each patient's needs.
Pain Management
Neurostimulation and Intrathecal Drug Delivery can be effective options for patients with chronic pain who are experiencing inadequate pain relief or uncomfortable side effects from their current pain treatments.
Spasticity
Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy™ (ITB) eases intractable severe non-focal spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke by delivering an injectable liquid drug directly into the intrathecal space in small, precisely controlled doses using a pump and catheter that is surgically placed just beneath the skin in the body.
Neurostimulation for Bladder Control and for Bowel Control
This is the first implantable device to use electrical stimulation of the sacral nerves to manage urinary urge incontinence, urgency frequency and urinary retention. It is also used to manage faecal incontinence and constipation.
The technology can improve the quality of life for many of the millions of people who suffer from the embarrassing and confining effects of incontinence.
Gastric Neurostimulation
Alleviates chronic nausea and vomiting associated with gastroparesis when conventional drug therapies are not effective. Gastroparesis is a stomach disorder in which food moves through the stomach more slowly than normal. In some patients, this condition results in severe, chronic nausea and vomiting, which cannot be adequately controlled by available drugs. These patients have difficulty eating and may require some form of tube feeding to ensure adequate nutrition.
Gastric neurostimulation uses mild electrical pulses to stimulate the stomach. This electrical stimulation helps control the symptoms associated with gastroparesis including nausea and vomiting.
Enlarged Prostate
This is a minimally invasive option for men over 50 suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate. It is effective, safe, fast, and associated with few side affects and adverse events. The therapy delivers low-level radio frequency energy through a tube inserted into the urethra to shrink enlarged prostate tissue, while preserving the urethra and adjacent structures from harm. This precisely focused energy ablates prostate tissue, reducing constriction of the urethra, and relieving many of the obstructive and irritating voiding symptoms patients suffer due to BPH.
Adjustable Continence to Address Stress
Urinary Incontinence in Women
Incontinence is managed with post-operatively adjustable implants placed bilaterally in a periurethral position at the bladder neck, to maintain uniform coaptation and normal bladder control.
...And Men
A post-operatively adjustable implant for stress incontinence that may be caused either by a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles or a loss of control of the sphincter muscle that controls the opening of the bladder.
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Additional information
Camp Oki
The Medtronic Foundation is pleased to support Camp Oki, a summer camp for children with congenital heart disease. With staff support from the Hospital for Sick Children's Cardiac Program, the camp operates a free one-week program in Muskoka for children with pacemakers and defibrillators.