- The FDA approves St. Jude Medical's (STJ -1.6%) Protege MRI spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, and MRI compatibility of the 60cm Octrode percutaneous leads for use with the device, for the treatment of chronic pain.
- The Protege MRI is the smallest MR-conditional SCS implantable pulse generator (IPG) available in the U.S. and the only upgradeable IPG that allows patients to safely undergo head and extremity MRI scans.
- SCS therapy uses a small implanted generator to deliver electrical pulses to the spinal column via leads with electrodes. The pulses mask or interrupt pain signals as they travel up the spinal column to the brain thereby reducing the sensation of pain.