Newly FDA-approved system allows a patient to both communicate with a physician and remotely receive stimulation settings in real-time regardless of location

Abbott announced the US launch of NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic, a first-of-its-kind technology that allows patients to communicate with physicians, ensure proper settings and functionality, and receive new treatment settings remotely as needed. Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, the NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic has the potential to increase access to optimal treatment for patients suffering from chronic pain or movement disorders who don’t live close to a care provider, have difficulty accessing care, or are unable to go to the doctor because of circumstances like COVID-19.

Abbott’s NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic gives patients the flexibility and comfort of receiving care anywhere by connecting with their doctor via secure in-app video chat and an integrated remote programming feature, now available within the proprietary Abbott patient controller app. NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic enables clinicians to prescribe new treatment settings remotely to the patient’s neurostimulation device using the clinician programmer app and a new, simple and secure remote care connection. This advancement gives patients confidence in their care and the convenience to manage their therapy in a way that fits their lifestyle.

“With NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic, physicians can communicate and digitally prescribe new stimulation settings remotely, allowing them to extend care beyond their clinic walls and optimise therapy management,” said Timothy Deer, President and CEO, The Spine and Nerve Center of the Virginias in Charleston, W.Va. “This is a significant advancement for chronic pain patients.”

“NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic solves considerable issues patients with movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor, can have in obtaining the care they need,” said Drew Falconer, neurologist and director, Inova Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Center in Fairfax, Va.

“Often, patients must be off their medication overnight, so that their treatments can be adjusted properly, which can make it difficult for a patient to travel to their specialist. With NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic, patients can receive stimulation settings from their physicians in real-time and remotely via the cloud and Bluetooth-based technology, which is something we have never been able to do before. This opens up a world in which patients can receive the care they need anytime, anywhere.”

The NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic can also be helpful for people who live in areas — both rural and urban — with inadequate access to medical services. On average people living with movement, disorders will travel over 150 miles to access specialists offering deep brain stimulation (DBS). Without alternative solutions, such as digital and/or telehealth options, these patients are more likely to delay or forego much-needed care. NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic brings the convenience and flexibility of telemedicine to neurostimulation therapy, further benefitting chronic pain and movement disorder patients with Abbott devices. Medicare will cover remote programming services as a telehealth benefit through the duration of the public health emergency.

“A decade ago, we started evaluating the hurdles that patients had to overcome to receive neuromodulation treatment, and we have been working ever since to find a better way to connect providers and patients – to empower patients to decide how to access the care they need,” said Keith Boettiger, Vice President, Neuromodulation, Abbott. “We are continuing to make these kinds of investments and working with regulatory authorities to make this telehealth changes permanent, as we believe that patients should be able to receive the care they need, regardless of whether they can make it physically to the doctor’s office.”

The NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic is compatible with Abbott’s suite of neuromodulation technologies, including Infinity DBS System for patients with Parkinson’s disease and tremors of the upper extremities in adults with essential tremors; Proclaim XR SCS System for patients living with chronic pain of the trunk and/or limbs, and Proclaim DRG Neurostimulation System for patients with chronic pain in the lower limbs caused by complex regional pain syndrome or causalgia. This integration across all Abbott neuromodulation technologies highlights Abbott’s relentless pursuit of patient-centred research and development methodologies that use neuroscience combined with cutting-edge technology to go beyond physical symptom relief to improve the lives of people with neurological disorders.