Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today that it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to launch the Liberta RC™ DBS system, the world's smallest rechargeable deep brain stimulation (DBS) device with remote programming, to treat people living with movement disorders. The Liberta RC DBS system also requires the fewest recharges of any FDA-approved DBS system, needing only 10 recharge sessions a year for most people.
Communication between people and their doctors is critical to ensuring exceptional care, especially for those who suffer from chronic conditions, such as Parkinson's disease and essential tremor, that can be treated with deep brain stimulation therapy. The Liberta RC DBS system is the only rechargeable DBS device compatible with Abbott's proprietary NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic, a first-of-its-kind connected care technology in the U.S. that allows people to communicate with their doctors, ensure proper settings and functionality, and receive new treatment settings remotely as needed without stepping foot in a doctor's office.
Abbott developed NeuroSphere Virtual Clinic after research showed that the average Abbott DBS user in the U.S. must travel more than 150 miles (about 240 kilometres) to access a movement disorder specialist.
Said one expert in the field, "The Liberta RC DBS system excels in both areas, as a compact rechargeable device with the lowest recharge requirement of any FDA-approved DBS system. This achievement, coupled with the integration of remote programming capabilities, is a significant advancement for patients."
ABT shares gained 81 cents to $111.58.
