The system targets the basivertebral nerve to provide relief from chronic vertebrogenic low back pain.
Stryker announced that the US Food and Drug Administration granted 510(k) clearance for its OptaBlate basivertebral nerve ablation system (OptaBlate BVN) that’s used in a targeted minimally invasive procedure providing vertebrogenic low back pain relief.Â
The addition of the OptaBlate BVN to Stryker’s pain portfolio expands its pain therapy solutions for patients and is an intersection of its two core competencies: radiofrequency ablation technology and vertebral access.
“We often see patients with chronic low back pain who have tried multiple treatments—physical therapy, injections, medications—without lasting relief,” says Jad Khalil, MD, spine surgeon at Michigan Orthopaedic Surgeons, in a release. “BVNA (basivertebral nerve ablation) is a minimally invasive and innovative procedure that targets a key source of this pain, particularly in patients with specific MRI findings. Before BVNA, options for lasting relief were limited. For many, it offers meaningful improvement and can help avoid more aggressive treatments like surgery.”
Key features of the OptaBlate BVN system for chronic low back pain relief include:
- Achieves at least a 1 cm lesion in 7 minutes
- Steerable, dynamic curved introducer for targeted performance
- Microinfusion technology, which keeps the zone hydrated, reducing impedance errors and preventing charring
- 10-gauge access tools
“We have a long history in radiofrequency ablation, and we’re relentlessly committed to delivering groundbreaking approaches to protect and promote quality of life,” says Kristen Berg, vice president and general manager of Stryker’s Interventional Spine business, in a release. “Our legacy providing solutions to reduce pain now continues with OptaBlate BVN, addressing the underserved population suffering from chronic vertebrogenic lumbar pain.”
Stryker’s Interventional Spine business will introduce OptaBlate BVN as part of its pain portfolio at the American Society of Pain & Neuroscience Annual Meeting, July 17-20, in Miami, Fla.
Photo caption: OptaBlate BNV
Photo credit: Stryker
