Objective: To contrast the durations of Activa SCs with the durations of preceding Soletra neurostimulator models within the same individuals programmed at near constant parameters. To contrast the duration of initially implanted Soletras to initially implanted Activa SCs across different individuals. To contrast the duration of successive Soletras within the same individuals.

Background: Much has been reported about the battery decay characteristics and durations of Medtronic’s single channel Soletra neurostimulator (Halpern et al. 2011; Montuno et al., 2013), but no reports yet exist for Medtronic’s Activa SC model released 3/15/2011. Here we characterize the duration of Activa SCs by contrasting them to Soletras across a number of clinical conditions.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of 20 patients, who were implanted for Movement Disorders, and have undergone multiple battery exchanges, involving at least one complete cycle of an Activa SC. Of the 20, nearly all were implanted bilaterally, but only the batteries that fell between the Elective Replacement Indicator (ERI) and the End of Service (EOS) thresholds of 2.60V and 2.20V respectively, were studied. Durations from all preceding neurostimulators were logged as the time between implant dates, regardless of whether devices were Soletras or Activa SCs.

Results: The mean duration of initially implanted Soletras was statistically longer t_(18.9)=2.32; p=.03) at 4.11 years (n=16) than that of initially implanted Activa SCs at 3.13 years (n=7). Further, the duration of an initial Soletra at 4.46 years (n=11) was statistically longer (t₍₁₀₎=4.75; p=.00025) than a successive Soletra at 3.69 years (n=11) within the same individual. The mean difference of 9.25 months between successive Soletras was comparable to the 10 months reported by Halpern et al. (2011). Importantly, the mean duration of non-initial Soletras at 4.01 years (n=8) was statistically greater (t₍₇₎=4.44; p=.003) then the successive Activa SCs at 3.38 years (n=8), within the same individuals using near identical parameters. The mean difference between devices at near identical settings was more than half a year at 7.51 months.

Conclusions: Results from our analyses show that overall, Activa SCs exhibit less longevity than their earlier Soletra counterparts.

References: Halpern, C.H., et al., (2011). Longevity analysis of currently available deep brain stimulation devices. Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, 89, 1-5.

Montuno M.A. et al., (20013). An Algorithm for management of deep brain stimulation battery replacement: devising a web-based battery estimator and clinical symptom approach. Neuromodulation, 16, 147-153.

« Back to 2017 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/deep-brain-stimulation-dbs-battery-longevity-of-medtronic-activa-sc-is-briefer-than-preceding-soletra-models-a-within-subject-analysis/