Abbott Showcases Latest Research & Technology to Advance Care for Chronic Pain Conditions

Abbott announced new four-year data showing the long-term and sustained relief that its proprietary BurstDR spinal cord stimulation (SCS) technology provides people with chronic pain, particularly pain in the back and legs. 

The data represents outcomes from the four-year mark of a multi-year follow-up study and is being shared at the North American Neuromodulation (NANS) 2025 Annual Meeting. 

Abbott’s BurstDR SCS therapy uses pulses, or bursts, of mild electrical energy without an abnormal sensation of “tingling” (known as paresthesia) to change pain signals as they travel from the spinal cord to the brain. Patients do not typically feel the therapy, which is more comfortable and preferred to traditional tonic stimulation.^1,2 

“Unlike traditional approaches, BurstDR stimulation therapy has shown consistent effectiveness across a range of patient-reported outcomes with little or no decline in therapeutic effect over time,” said Professor Jan Vesper, M.D., Ph.D., of Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. “This latest data highlights the life-changing capabilities of Abbott’s BurstDR technology in delivering sustained, long-term relief for patients with chronic back and leg pain.” 

Abbott’s REALITY (Long-Term Real-World Outcomes Study on Patients Implanted with a Neurostimulator) study is a five-year prospective, single-arm, international study to analyze the benefits of Abbott’s BurstDR technology in people who suffer from chronic pain in their back and/or legs.

Patients using BurstDR have reported a significant reduction in the impact chronic pain has on their emotional and mental states, particularly as it relates to “pain catastrophizing,” worrying about future pain that may magnify pain sensations.³

Four-Year Mark Findings

• Strong preference and lasting relief: 91% of patients preferred BurstDR stimulation therapy over traditional tonic stimulation, with sustained improvements in pain, sleep, and daily function.
• Improved mental and physical health: 45% reduction in pain catastrophizing, reaching levels comparable to those without chronic pain, as well as significant improvements in sleep and physical function.
• High-level of safety and patient satisfaction: Low rates of adverse events over the study period with 85% of patients willing to do the procedure again.

Abbott’s Connected Care Ecosystem  

Abbott also announced that the 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. 

The app will be available via the Abbott-provided patient controller or personal iOS mobile devices and incorporates the NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic, giving people the flexibility and comfort of receiving care from their doctor anywhere with a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Patients and doctors can connect through in-app video chat and integrated remote programming features.  

“Chronic pain is a deeply personal and unique experience, requiring equally individualized treatment options,” said Pedro Malha, vice president 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.” 

References:

¹Deer, T. Randomized, Controlled Trial Assessing Burst Stimulation for Chronic Pain: 2-Year Outcomes from the SUNBURST Study. Presented at NANS 2018.

²Deer T, Slavin KV, Amirdelfan K, et al. Success Using Neuromodulation With BURST (SUNBURST) Study: Results From a Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial Using a Novel Burst Waveform. Neuromodulation. 2017;20(6):543-552.

³Lucas JW, Sohi I. Chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain in U.S. adults, 2023. NCHS Data Brief, no 518. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2024. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/169630