Spine-Tingling Advancements from NANS 2025

The North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) was formed in 1994 through the work of a group of neuromodulation specialists dedicated to patient care. Since then, its membership has grown to almost 1,800 members.

It’s a chapter of the International Neuromodulation society, part of the network of neuromodulation organizations and a partner to agencies, societies, groups, and companies to progress the science and application of neuromodulation in order to benefit patients. NANS links patients, physicians, and healthcare professionals, scientists, engineers, and industry to advance neuromodulation, drive multidisciplinary collaboration, enhance therapy awareness, and inspire innovation to transform patients’ lives.

NANS’ annual meeting this year took place Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 in Orlando, Fla. The event featured educational programming, cutting-edge research, interactive workshops, networking opportunities, an exhibition hall, and professional development activities. 

Readers may ask how this relates to orthopedic and spinal technology. It does so through spinal cord stimulation (SCS) technology, a form of neuromodulation used to treat chronic pain. During the NANS meeting, several companies specializing in SCS presented landmark research about the technology.

Biotronik Neuro revealed new data from its BENEFIT-03 clinical study to highlight the potential of its Prospera SCS system at the event. The prospective, multicenter study in Australia is touted as the first and only long-term clinical trial evaluating SCS’ impact with real-time remote monitoring in patients suffering from chronic low back and/or leg pain.

The Prospera SCS, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023, combines Biotronik Neuro’s Resonance multiphase stimulation with automatic, objective, daily remote monitoring. The company’s 24-month data showed that study subjects had significant pain relief, better sleep, improved function, and reduced opioid medication use.

Therapy responder rates (>50% pain reduction by Visual Analog Scale) were 86% for back pain, 89% for leg pain, and 82% for overall pain. Mean daily pain intensity (by Numerical Rating Scale) was reduced to 1.8 at 24 months vs. 6.6 at baseline, and function was improved with 73% of participants reporting minimal/moderate disability at 24 months (Oswestry Disability Index) vs. 5% at baseline. Among baseline opioid users, 80% eliminated or reduced dosage >50% at 24 months.

Further, remote monitoring detected SCS issues for all participants, enabling intervention in 2.9 days, vs. over 7.2 days with standard in-clinic SCS care. The most common issues were low device usage and therapeutic amplitude outside the prescribed setting. Ninety-five percent of participants reported that remote adjustments saved money.

“We’re encouraged to see the continued strong results over time with the Prospera SCS system, which demonstrate its potential to advance patient care and address the challenges SCS patients face,” said Todd Langevin, Biotronik Neuro’s president. “This evidence reinforces the growing body of research supporting proactive care and remote monitoring as effective strategies to optimize pain relief and mirror the real-world benefits our customers report.”

Abbott Laboratories also revealed new four-year data for its BurstDR SCS for chronic pain at the NANS meeting. The data represents outcomes from the four-year mark of a multi-year follow-up study.

Abbott’s BurstDR SCS therapy uses pulses, or bursts, of mild electrical energy without an abnormal sensation of “tingling” (paresthesia) to change pain signals as they travel from the spinal cord to the brain. The company’s REALITY study is a five-year prospective, single-arm, international trial to analyze the benefits of Abbott’s BurstDR technology in people who suffer from chronic pain in their back and/or legs.

Ninety-one percent of patients preferred BurstDR stimulation therapy over traditional tonic stimulation, with sustained improvements in pain, sleep, and daily function. A 45% reduction in pain catastrophizing, reaching levels comparable to those without chronic pain, as well as improvements in sleep and physical function were also demonstrated.

Abbott also announced at NANS that its NeuroSphere Digital Health app will launch a unified patient platform for U.S. patients. This new app builds on current connected care patient support capabilities to encompass the whole care journey—from early education to post-implant follow-up. 

“Chronic pain is a deeply personal and unique experience, requiring equally individualized treatment options,” said Pedro Malha, VP of neuromodulation at Abbott. “Every spinal cord stimulation advancement we develop—from BurstDR to the NeuroSphere Digital Health app—is designed to meet people where they are in their chronic pain journey and help them regain their lives. The pain relief and satisfaction our technologies have brought to people reinforce how Abbott is redefining the way advanced diseases are managed and breaking down barriers to care globally.”