Nerve stimulators and neurostimulators have become invaluable tools in the field of medicine, offering innovative solutions for managing chronic pain, neurological disorders, and various other conditions. As technology advances, one of the key developments transforming the landscape of nerve stimulation is wireless charging. Fast, easy to use wireless charging enhances user convenience and also significantly improves the overall effectiveness of different types of nerve stimulators. Resonant Link’s titanium-compatible 20-minute wireless charging for implantable medical devices is an example of what’s possible with wireless charging that fits into patients’ lives, as opposed to charging they have to fit their lives around.
Continue reading for more on the different types of nerve stimulators and how they’re being used to improve patients’ lives.
Types of Nerve Stimulators
Spinal Cord Stimulators (SCS)
Spinal Cord Stimulators are devices designed to alleviate chronic pain by delivering electrical pulses to the spinal cord, disrupting pain signals. Many rechargeable spinal cord stimulators require precise alignment of the external charger over the implant for wireless recharging, limiting patients' mobility and comfort and at times, preventing patients from being able to use their devices. The integration of fast, easy to use wireless charging revolutionizes the patient experience, allowing patients to charge their spinal cord stimulators while moving around and ultimately, to live pain free.
Peripheral Nerve Stimulators (PNS)
PNS devices target peripheral nerves to manage pain and treat various conditions like obstructive sleep apnea. Peripheral nerve stimulators are smart, using data to understand when stimulation is needed and control the amount that’s delivered. Wireless power enables miniaturization of peripheral nerve stimulators by eliminating the need for an implant battery. Instead of the implant storing energy through a battery, the implant can request power from an external transmitter when it’s needed. To do this, both fast, bi-directional communication and reliable power transfer between the implant and external transmitter are essential. Resonant Link has designed multiple wireless power systems for battery-free implants, ranging from brain-computer interfaces that require continuous, reliable data transfer and power for monitoring neurological signals to tiny peripheral nerve stimulators that require fast, reliable wireless power transfer even as the body moves around to power stimulation whenever it’s needed.
Deep Brain Stimulators (DBS)
DBS devices are used to treat neurological conditions by delivering electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain. Wireless charging is particularly beneficial for DBS as it enhances patient comfort and encourages greater acceptance of DBS therapy, while also enabling smaller devices that can be implanted closer to the treatment site.
Vagus Nerve Stimulators (VNS)
VNS devices stimulate the vagus nerve to help manage and alleviate a variety of conditions, such as epilepsy, depression, stroke, chronic pain, and more. In the past, rechargeable vagus nerve stimulators, like other rechargeable neurostimulators, were typically bulky due to the battery and power supply needed, and difficult for patients to use due to requiring the external charger to be placed very precisely in order to charge the implanted neurostimulator. Now, because of advancements in wireless power technology, minimally invasive bioelectronic devices are possible. Vagus nerve stimulators no longer need implanted batteries with fast and reliable wireless power like Resonant Link delivers, ensuring a consistent and reliable therapy experience. In addition, wireless power that works even as patients move around improves patient compliance and desire to use VNS devices, so more people can get the benefits of VNS therapy.
Sacral Nerve Stimulators (SNS)
Sacral nerve stimulators are used to treat urinary incontinence, urinary retention, urgency, frequency, and fecal incontinence for the millions who suffer from overactive bladder, incontinence, and related conditions for whom pharmacologic treatment doesn't work. To date, there have been more than 300,000 patients implanted with SNS devices. Like with other stimulators, the duration of treatment is directly related to the longevity of the implantable battery. Like with other primary cell medical devices, non-rechargeable implants typically last for five years. Rechargeable sacral nerve stimulators, on the other hand, provide patients the ability to wirelessly recharge their devices, as well as provide other benefits like advanced programming capabilities and personalization. Resonant Link’s wireless charging provides SNS devices with greater charging flexibility and speed, ensuring patients can use them and they get the all day, everyday benefits for which they rely on these devices.
These are just a few examples of medical devices that use neurostimulation to treat patients. There are several benefits to using bioelectronic devices like nerve stimulators, including increased efficacy and fewer or no side effects. As the field of bioelectronic medicine continues to grow, these medical devices will continue to depend on wireless charging for fast, reliable, and easy to use power anywhere it’s needed. Below, we summarize the primary advantages of wireless charging and why medical device makers are increasingly turning to wireless power and recharging for patient monitoring and treatment.
Wireless Charging Advantages
Enhanced Mobility
Wireless charging liberates patients from the constraints of wired connections, allowing them to move freely without the burden of managing power cables. This is particularly beneficial for medical devices that require high power levels today.
Reduced Infection Risk
For implantable nerve stimulators, the elimination of external wires minimizes the risk of infection. Wireless charging ensures a sealed and secure environment, reducing the likelihood of complications associated with wired connections. Wireless charging also eliminates the need to use primary cell batteries in neurostimulators, which eliminates the need for patients to undergo surgery that can also cause infections and unnecessary deaths when the battery runs out.
User-Friendly Experience
Wireless charging simplifies the charging process, making it more user-friendly for patients. This is especially true with wireless charging that doesn’t require precise alignment of an external charger over an implanted medical device. Resonant Link’s wireless power systems offer greater flexibility of movement as they work even as patients move around. This greater misalignment tolerance can lead to increased patient compliance and better treatment outcomes.
Conclusion
The integration of wireless charging technology represents a significant leap forward in the field of nerve stimulation and neurostimulation, promising to enhance the overall effectiveness and acceptance of stimulators across various medical applications. Patients can look forward to a future where managing chronic conditions becomes more convenient, comfortable, and seamlessly integrated into their daily lives.
To learn more about wireless power and charging for your medical device, contact us today.
