Spinal Cord Stimulation System Treats Chronic Pain

A novel spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system delivers proprietary high frequency (HF) therapy, in addition to all other available SCS frequencies.

The Nevro (Menlo Park, CA, USA) Senza Omnia system is a non-pharmacologic neuromodulation platform for the treatment of chronic pain that is comprised of a programmer that provides an array of waveforms across the full SCS frequency spectrum, either separately or paired together; a patient remote that supports a range of programming capabilities for both patient and physician; a rechargeable, upgradeable implanted pulse generator that is designed to last ten years independent of stimulation profile and is conditional full body MRI; and a 16-contact electrode system placed near the spinal cord.

Unique to the Omnia is HF10 therapy, which can stimulate the spinal cord at a rate up to 10 kHz (10,000 pulses per second), as compared to traditional SCS which utilizes low frequency stimulation, typically between 40 Hz and 60 Hz. HF10 therapy also differs from traditional SCS in that it provides back and leg pain relief without paresthesia, the constant tingling sensation that is the basis of traditional SCS therapy. The pairing of waveforms across a frequency range of 2 and 10,000 hertz enables delivery of dual mechanisms of action.

“The Omnia system was developed based on feedback from the pain community, and has resulted in a product that Nevro is uniquely able to provide. Omnia not only offers HF10, the most studied therapy available, but it also gives physicians access to all other SCS frequencies, either independently or paired with HF10,” said Keith Grossman, chairman and CEO of Nevro. “With Omnia, our goal is to provide physicians the peace of mind that when they implant the system, they will have the versatility needed to achieve the best possible outcomes for their patients.”

“Many people suffering from chronic pain need a versatile solution to treat the dynamic, and sometimes progressive, nature of pain," said Kasra Amirdelfan, MD, director of medical research at IPM Medical Group (Walnut Creek, CA, USA). “With Omnia, we can now offer patients the proven advantages of HF10 therapy while still having access to all other SCS frequencies. The patient response in my practice during the recent limited evaluation period has been positive and I look forward to providing the Omnia system more broadly in my practice.”

SCS electrical pulses are intended to mask or interrupt pain signals as they travel to the brain, thus reducing painful sensations. Traditional SCS uses equally spaced electrical pulses to replace pain with a tingling sensation called paresthesia. For some patients, the stimulation sensation can fluctuate and paresthesia may become uncomfortable. For others, traditional stimulation does not effectively relieve their pain.

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