DUBLIN, 6 June 2017 – Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT) today announced it has received a Health Canada licence for SureTune3 software for deep brain stimulation (DBS). The latest innovations in the SureTune technology allow for more precise, efficient treatment while also improving patient management with centralized data storage for easy reference. SureTune 3 provides patient-specific visualization of lead location and simulated volume of neural activation to help physicians make decisions on how to program - or tune - their patient's DBS therapy.

Medtronic DBS therapy has Health Canada licence for diseases such as Parkinson's Disease and treats symptoms such as tremors by applying mild electrical stimulation via leads or "guidewires" to precise targets in the brain. More than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson's disease. According to Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario, more than 100,000 people are impacted by the disease in Canada alone.

SureTune3's advancements streamline the physician's workflow and allow StealthStation surgical planning information to be imported for lead placement -including Activa DBS leads. SureTune3 also contains a 3D deformable atlas to allow physicians to more precisely define anatomical structures, or the exact spot in the brain that must be stimulated to alleviate symptoms. The SureTune3 system is fully downloadable with the option to work over a hospital's server so clinical multidisciplinary teams can work flexibly. SureTune3 is currently not approved in the United States.
"It is a vital goal to obtain the best clinical outcomes for our patients. Software - such as SureTune3 - can accurately visualize patient-specific stimulation settings and expedite the data while treating patients with DBS," said Dr. Christopher Honey, Professor of Neurosurgery, University of British Columbia. "Further, this software can allow our hospital server to integrate all the procedure and patient data so I can provide more personalized case management with faster programming."

Medtronic DBS therapy applies mild electrical stimulation to precise targets in the brain to modulate specific symptom control. The brain targets are stimulated through lead(s) inserted into the brain and connected to an implantable neurostimulator through extensions running under the skin. A medical professional uses an external programmer to set and adjust stimulation settings. Medtronic DBS therapy is licensed in Canada for Parkinson's Disease, Dystonia, Essential Tremor and Epilepsy and is the only DBS therapy that, under specific conditions, is full body MR conditional and can be left on during an MRI scan.

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