January 2023 issue
January 31, 2023 | About 3000 clinicians, researchers, neural engineers, and neuromodulation industry professionals returned to Las Vegas for the 2023 meeting of the North American Neuromodulation Society. Most attendees welcomed the venue change, after a brief stint in Orlando, FL in 2021 and 2022.
At the meeting, Ali Rezai, associate dean of neuroscience at West Virginia University and executive chair and director of the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from NANS. Other awardees included Lawrence Poree from UC San Francisco, who received the Distinguished Service Award, Tim Deer, former president of the International Neuromodulation Society, who received the Presidential Merit Award, and Warren Grill from Duke University, who received the Clinical and Basic Science/Engineering Innovator Award.
Also at the meeting, Nevro offered a series of data presentations supporting the use of the company’s HFX 10 kHz therapy for patients with chronic pain. A total of 18 scientific abstracts reviewing clinical results for 10 kHz therapy, including two late-breaking presentations, seven podium presentations, and nine posters, were presented at NANS 2023.
Erika Petersen from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences presented 24-month follow-up results for pain relief and improved neurological function. Nevro’s SENZA-PDN trial is the largest, Level 1 randomized controlled trial of spinal cord stimulation treatment studying PDN completed thus far with 216 randomized subjects. Leonardo Kapural from Carolinas Pain Institute in North Carolina presented 24-month outcomes from its SENZA-NSRBP trial investigating 10 kHz therapy for treating non-surgical refractory back pain, with 159 randomized participants from 15 study centers.
“Nevro is proud to continue our longstanding commitment to investing in the field of neuromodulation and expanding our growing body of clinical evidence,” said D. Keith Grossman, chairman, CEO, and president of Nevro. “We are excited for Dr. Petersen and Dr. Kapural to share the significant 24-month data from the SENZA-PDN and the SENZA-NSRBP trials at NANS, reflecting our mission to help physicians treat underserved patient populations suffering from debilitating chronic pain. Additionally, we are pleased that many of the clinical investigators studying our proprietary 10 kHz therapy will have the opportunity to present the results of numerous additional studies around the world.” Grossman earlier announced his intention to step down at the helm of Nevro, and his replacement has not yet been named.
Integer unveiled its latest innovations and expanded capabilities in neuromodulation to enable the next generation of miniaturized active implantable devices. “Integer built its leadership position in active implantables by providing OEMs with innovative, development-ready technology solutions that can be customized for each application,” said Michael Sanford, vice president, commercialization. “The objective of our miniaturization effort is to create the next generation of differentiated platform technologies to accelerate and de-risk OEMs’ path to market for novel implantable medical devices. Integer is uniquely positioned to deliver these advancements given our broad expertise from critical components, such as batteries, to fully integrated implantable pulse generator systems.”
The company displayed its new Xcellion Gen 3 Fast Charge lithium ion implantable battery technology, which it says delivers best in class battery runtime and full re-charges in as little as 30 minutes.
Micro-Leads Medical showed its new Expand-X needle-injectable device for precision neurostimulation of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. It uses a tiny catheter for delivery.
Investigators affiliated with Mainstay Medical presented positive four-year data from its ReActiv8 trial of its device for treating mechanical back pain.
Neuralace Medical, Inc. announced its pilot study by the Veterans Affairs Augusta assessing the company’s Axon magnetic peripheral nerve stimulation therapy. mPNS is the proprietary mechanism of action behind Neuralace’s FDA-cleared Axon therapy device. “We are thankful that NANS has extended the invitation to Dr. Bedder and the VA Augusta to present the findings of their pilot study to leaders in the practice of pain medicine,” said Keith Warner, CEO of Neuralace Medical.
