Tined Lead for InterStim Therapy Enables Percutaneous Implant.Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2002 Available in North America and Europe starting in October, newly designed lead for sacral nerve sacral nerve n. Any of five nerves emerging from the sacral foramina: the first three enter into the formation of the sacral plexus, and the second two into the coccygeal plexus. stimulation may shorten procedure and recovery times InterStim(R) Therapy for Urinary Control, which uses an implanted medical device akin to a cardiac pacemaker cardiac pacemaker A device that delivers a small electric shock to the heart to effect cardiac contraction at a pre-determined rate to stimulate the sacral nerves Sacral nerves The five pairs of nerves that arise from the lowermost segments of the spinal cord and control bladder, bowel, and pelvic functions. Stimulation of the sacral nerves by an implanted device is a newer treatment for urinary incontinence. and improve bladder function, will become better for physicians and patients this month with the full-scale commercial launch in North America and Europe of a new lead that can be implanted percutaneously. Developed by Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :MDT MDT abbr. Mountain Daylight Time MDT (in the US and Canada) Mountain Daylight Time MDT n abbr (US) (= mountain daylight time) → ), the new lead features tines, which eliminate the need for suturing and help keep the lead in place. It also may shorten the time required for implant and facilitate faster patient recovery as a result of less muscle trauma and a minimized surgical incision. Other features of the tined tine n. 1. A branch of a deer's antlers. 2. A prong on an implement such as a fork or pitchfork. [Middle English, from Old English tind. lead include visual, tactile and fluoroscopic Fluoroscopic (fluoroscopy) An x-ray procedure that produces immediate images and motion on a screen. The images look like those seen at airport baggage security stations. Mentioned in: Hypotonic Duodenography markers that aid in proper placement. "The tined lead represents a significant improvement in InterStim Therapy for Urinary Control," according to Dr. Magdy Hassouna, a urologist at Toronto Western Hospital The Toronto Western Hospital is located at the corner of Bathurst Street and Dundas Street West in Toronto, Canada. It is part of the University Health Network. TWH has 256 beds, with 46,000 visits to its emergency department annually. in Ontario and a participant in the physician evaluation of the newly designed lead for sacral nerve stimulation. "It simplifies the implant procedure, which can now be performed percutaneously and, as a result, with only local anesthesia. Most importantly, the tined lead holds. In my experience, I have observed no lead migrations through six weeks post-implant." The physician evaluation of the tined lead began in June as part of a limited market release in Europe and Canada; eight urologists and 20 patients with urinary control problems participated. Commercially available to physicians in Canada and Europe starting today and in the United States beginning Oct. 7, the tined lead received CE Mark approval in April and FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. approval in September. As many as 20 million Americans suffer from bladder control problems, and the vast majority -- about 85 percent -- are women between the ages of 30 and 59. Before the introduction of InterStim Therapy in the late 1990s, treatment options for these problems were limited to medication, biofeedback biofeedback, method for learning to increase one's ability to control biological responses, such as blood pressure, muscle tension, and heart rate. Sophisticated instruments are often used to measure physiological responses and make them apparent to the patient, who and pelvic floor exercises at the start of the care continuum, and irreversible surgical procedures such as bladder augmentation, bladder removals and urinary diversions at the end. Medtronic estimates that tens of thousands of properly selected patients could benefit from InterStim Therapy, a viable treatment option in the middle of the care continuum. InterStim Therapy is indicated for the treatment of urinary retention and the symptoms of overactive bladder, including urge incontinence and significant symptoms of urgency-frequency, alone or in combination, in patients who have failed or could not tolerate more conservative treatments. It received FDA approval in September 1997 as a treatment for urinary urge incontinence and in April 1999 for significant symptoms of urgency-frequency and nonobstructive urinary retention. Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the world's leading medical technology company, providing lifelong solutions for people with chronic disease. More information about InterStim Therapy is available online at www.interstim.com. Any statements made about the company's anticipated financial results and regulatory approvals are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 26, 2002. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. |
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