Neuromodulation
St. Jude Medical Neuromodulation develops manufactures and sells implantable systems
to treat chronic intractable pain and other nervous system disorders. Our advanced
technologies are designed to help improve the quality of life for the millions of
people who suffer from chronic pain. Beyond chronic pain, clinical trials are
underway to evaluate our products as treatments for depression, migraine headache,
Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and other conditions.
St. Jude Medical has a history of innovation and excellence in neuromodulation that
began in the 1970s and continues to the present day. We offer a broad portfolio of
products, which
includes the market's smallest, longest-lasting rechargeable
neurostimulator1-6 and the most comprehensive line of
tripolar paddle leads.
Neuromodulation Market
One of the fastest-growing areas in medicine, neuromodulation involves placing small
amounts of drugs or electricity on or near nerve targets to produce a therapeutic
effect. In the United States, a common form of neuromodulation is spinal cord
stimulation, in which electrical energy is delivered to the spinal cord by an
implanted device.
Analysts estimate that over 45,000 spinal cord stimulators were implanted in the U.S.
in 2008 and that perhaps ten times that number could be implanted if more patients
had access to the therapy.7,8 Overall, the demand for
neuromodulation products is increasing by about 20% per year.7
Total sales of these products are approaching the $2 billion mark, a figure that is
expected to more than double by 2012.9
The growth of neuromodulation is probably due to several factors, such as improved
technology, better implant procedures, and a greater awareness of the therapy and
the patients who might benefit from it. Much of neuromodulation is focused on
controlling intractable chronic pain. As the U.S. population ages and becomes prone
to chronic pain conditions, the demand for the therapy is likely to increase even
more. Yet neuromodulation has the potential to treat many other indications besides
chronic pain, and in the future, millions of people may be candidates for the therapy.
References
1 Medtronic. Ultra [brochure]. Minneapolis, Minn.; 2008.
2 Boston Scientific. Precision [brochure]. Valencia, Calif.; 2007.
3 Advanced Neuromodulation Systems. Eon Mini™ Neurostimulation System Clinician's Manual. Plano, Tex.; 2008.
4 Advanced Neuromodulation Systems. Eon™ Neurostimulation System Clinician's Manual. Plano, Tex.; 2005.
5 Medtronic. Checkmate [brochure]. Minneapolis, Minn.; 2008.
6 Boston Scientific. Physician Implant Manual: Implantable Pulse Generator Model SC1100. Valencia, Calif.; 2004.
7 Millenium Research Group. U.S. Markets for Neuromodulation Devices. Toronto, Ontario: 2006.
8 The Goldman Sachs Group. Americas: Healthcare, Medical Devices. New York: February, 2007.
9 Neurotech Reports. The Market for Neurotechnology, 2008-2012. San Francisco, Calif.: 2007.
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