Abbott has announced new four-year data showing the long-term and sustained relief that its proprietary BurstDR spinal cord stimulation (SCS) technology provides for patients with chronic pain—particularly pain in the back and legs. The data, which Abbott says reinforce the high level of satisfaction people have with the treatment, represent outcomes from the four-year mark of a multi-year follow-up study and are being shared at the 2025 North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) annual meeting (30 January–1 February, Orlando, USA).
Abbott’s BurstDR SCS therapy uses pulses or ‘bursts’ of mild electrical energy—without an abnormal sensation of tingling, known as paraesthesia—to change pain signals as they travel from the spinal cord to the brain. The therapy is not typically felt by patients, and the company claims that it is more comfortable and preferred to traditional tonic stimulation. In addition, 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 catastrophising’—worrying about future pain in a way that may magnify pain sensations.
“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 Jan Vesper (Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany). “These latest data highlight 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 study is a five-year prospective, single-arm, international study intended to analyse the benefits of the company’s BurstDR technology in people who suffer from chronic pain in their back and/or legs. Key findings from the study, with data from 143 participants at the four-year mark, include:
- 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 catastrophising, 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 also recently announced that its NeuroSphere digital health app will launch a unified patient platform for US patients. According to the company, 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. As part of this extended remote support system, the digital health app will introduce a live assistance feature, which allows patients to request support from Abbott’s patient education team when they have questions about their device.
The new, streamlined app will be available via the Abbott-provided patient controller or personal iOS mobile devices, and incorporates the award-winning NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic, giving users the flexibility and comfort of receiving care from their doctor wherever they are through a secure, in-app video chat and integrated remote programming feature, the company further claims.
“Chronic pain is a deeply personal and unique experience, requiring equally individualised treatment options,” said Pedro Malha, Abbott’s vice president of neuromodulation. “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.”