Abbott to Launch App to Track and Report Pain Relief in Chronic Pain Patients
New app will allow patients to record their pain relief during the device trial period
Abbott today announced the upcoming launch of NeuroSphere myPath, a digital health app designed to track and report on patient perceived pain relief and general well-being associated with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) or dorsal root ganglion (DRG) therapy. During the device trial period required before the permanent implant, the app allows patients to record their outcomes on pain and well-being while trialing their neurostimulation therapy.
“The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the need for digital and remote health tools,” said Keith Boettiger, vice president, Neuromodulation, Abbott. “The launch of the NeuroSphere myPath is one more example of how Abbott has been leading the way in providing remote ways to connect doctors and patients. Patients will be able to see information on their phone that would typically only be accessible in a doctor’s office – helping patients to share their journey with their doctors.”
Prior to committing to full implantation of a neuromodulation device, patients undergo a trial period to test device capabilities and capacity for pain relief. During the trial, temporary leads are placed and connected to an external generator, allowing patients to experience firsthand the impact of neuromodulation on their chronic pain and related symptoms.
“The current digital healthcare landscape has revolutionized our ability to provide direct care for patients whenever they need,” said Shachi Patel, M.D., interventional pain management physician and owner of Delmarva Pain and Spine Center in Newark, Del. “By providing patients with a more seamless, easier way to record their progress during the trial period, Abbott’s NeuroSphere myPath app will enable an enhanced communication experience while providing patients with further insight on their overall outcomes and response to neuromodulation.”
“As clinicians, we are constantly in search of more intuitive tools and easy-to-use applications that enable us to provide better care for our patients living with chronic pain – particularly when trialing a new treatment,” said Pankaj Mehta, M.D., medical director, chief medical officer and director of research at Pain Specialists in Austin, Texas. “Assessing a patient’s response to a new stimulation therapy is essential to determining a therapeutic course-of-action. With Abbott’s NeuroSphere myPath app, I will have the ability to assess the information patients have been recording and provide a comprehensive assessment on how they are responding to the therapy.”
The NeuroSphere myPath will be available on the Apple App Store in the coming weeks and is expected to be available on Android devices in Q2 2021.