Israel's advanced spinal implant tech gives hope to patients suffering from chronic pain

Israel's Sheba Medical Center, outside of Tel Aviv, has developed an advanced spinal implant that raises hope for those who suffer from chronic pain. The medical device utilizes real-time sensor data to dramatically improve the patients’ quality of life by adjusting pain management.

While unpleasant, pain serves as the body’s alarm system, naturally directing attention to damaged tissue. However, when the damage affects the nervous system and is left untreated, it can lead to chronic pain and long-term injuries.

When patients complain about chronic pain, the first step is to examine the underlying causes. In typical cases, the pain resolves once its source is identified and treated. However, in some instances, various treatments, including surgical interventions, fail to eliminate the pain. In these complex cases, spinal cord stimulators are used for patients suffering from chronic pain. In practice, the stimulators provide relief by disrupting the transmission of pain signals to the brain.

Previous spinal cord stimulators were preprogrammed devices that required patients to manually assess and adjust their pain levels. The new Israeli-developed spinal implant is considered a technological breakthrough as it integrates sensors to monitor activity in the spinal cord 50 times per second, providing real-time monitoring capabilities that eliminate the need for manual adjustments in pain management.

Patients who received the advanced implant were reportedly able to walk, dress and tie their shoes without assistance.

Newsweek, in its prestigious annual ranking, recently ranked Sheba Medical Center as the 8th best hospital in the world out of approximately 2,400 medical centers worldwide.

Sheba Medical Center has played a significant role in driving Israel’s economic growth, with its innovations in medical technology and pharmaceuticals generating around $1 billion through global partnerships. The hospital is also in the process of evolving into an AI-powered medical institution, according to its statement.

The infusion of advanced tech has played a key role in placing the Sheba among the world’s 20 leading “smart hospitals.”