Agnew did not identify the research group whose work was shown in the video, but Medtronic has already achieved positive results using a stimulator. Our probes can be adjusted or removed. Medtronic is studying the effects of probe implantation in two sites, the sub-thalamic nucleus and an internal portion of the globus pallidus. Only one probe is implanted in a patient. The location, says Laurie McBane, Medtronic clinical evaluation manager, depends on a physician's evaluation of the patient's symptoms and their severity.
Brain stimulation is just one facet of the company's research.
In late September, FDA approved Medtronic's Interstim Continence Control Therapy, which stimulates the sacral nerves to manage urinary urge incontinence. Interstim fires electrical pulses into the sacral nerves, located at the base of the spine, to help avoid or reduce accidental urination. Physicians can tailor treatment to the patient, adjusting stimulation frequency and strengths to maximize therapy benefits. These are people who once needed assistance with everything and who now have substantial independence. These patients have retained some upper body mobility because the portion of the spinal cord that controls the upper body is above the injured area and can thus still communicate with the brain.