Vivistim Paired VNS Therapy Outcomes & Success at Comprehensive Stroke Centers Highlighted at ISC 2025

Dr. Ronald Benitez to present Vivistim safety and outcomes data for the largest cohort of ischemic stroke survivors

AUSTIN, Texas and LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Ronald P. Benitez, a neurosurgeon at Atlantic Brain and Spine, will present safety and outcomes data from the largest, real-world Vivistim^® cohort of stroke survivors to-date during the American Heart Association's 2025 International Stroke Conference. Manufactured by MicroTransponder^®, Inc. (ISC Booth #1031) and FDA-approved as a Breakthrough Device, Vivistim is an implantable device that helps stroke survivors live fuller lives by pairing vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with occupational or physical therapy to help ischemic stroke survivors improve their hand and arm function 2-3 times more than traditional stroke therapy alone.

"These outcomes are especially compelling considering patients showed positive responses to Paired VNS™ Therapy with Vivistim despite an average of 3.6 years post-stroke, supporting the efficacy of this innovative treatment in the chronic stroke population," said Benitez. "Presenting this data at ISC to my fellow neurosurgeons and other health care professionals is significant because it demonstrates how this soon-to-be standard of care enhances outcomes for stroke survivors safely and effectively."

During his oral abstract presentation (Feb. 5 at 9:27 a.m., Room 502B), Benitez will highlight the following methodology and results:

• 25 post-acute stroke patients with moderate to severe motor impairments in the arm and hand
• The Vivistim implant procedure is a standard VNS implant that requires no additional surgical training
• Vivistim was implanted safely with no infections or surgical complications
• 22 of 25 patients completed the six-week Vivistim Therapy™ protocol
• Patients ranged in age from 40 - 80 years (mean 62.6) with time to implantation post-stroke ranging from 1 - 11 years
• Mean improvement in the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) score was 9.53 points (baseline score averaged 33, and the average post-therapy score was 43)
• Patient with the longest follow-up (22 months) showed continued progress, shaving almost 1 minute off of timed tasks

Similar findings are being reported by other Vivistim Providers, which account for 20% of Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Centers and 50% of Becker's 2024 100 Great Neuro and Spine Programs. Additional Vivistim-Related Sessions at ISC 2025:

• Invited Symposium – Implementation of Paired VNS (Amanda Saylor, OT, AdventHealth - Feb. 5, 8:30 a.m., Room 515B)
• Invited Symposium - Bench to Bedside and Beyond – Adjunctive Neurostimulation Interventions and Therapies to Maximize Post-Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery (Dr. Jesse Dawson, University of Glasgow – Feb. 5, 9:15 a.m., Room 502A)
• Poster/Abstract Session – Safety and Feasibility of Paired Upper Extremity Gamified Rehabilitation and Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Chronic Stroke (Megha Amin, PT, Mount Sinai Health System – Feb. 6, 7 p.m., Hall G)

Tap here for ISC 2025 Online Program Planner

"Chronic stroke recovery is emerging as a key theme at ISC and among health care professionals, partly because Vivistim is the first clinically proven innovation in 30 years that helps increase neuroplasticity for ischemic stroke survivors," said Richard Foust, CEO of MicroTransponder. "We're proud to be at the forefront of chronic stroke recovery and partner with some of the best neurosurgeons, neurologists, physiatrists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and other stroke professionals, who are excited to renew hope for their patients."

Stroke survivors like Kathy R., who was implanted by Benitez and began Vivistim Therapy in 2023, report improvement in activities of daily living and have maintained increased upper extremity function by activating self-initiated Vivistim Therapy. This added mechanism of action that enables stroke survivors to activate 30 minutes of vagus nerve stimulation by swiping the Vivistim Magnet across the implanted device helps extend the benefits of Vivistim Therapy beyond the initial 6 weeks of in-clinic occupational or physical therapy.

"I'm still celebrating firsts after completing the in-clinic portion of Vivistim Therapy in December 2023. Just recently, I was able to carry the laundry basket upstairs for the first time since my stroke," said Kathy, who survived an ischemic stroke in 2020. "I'm so grateful for Vivistim and my team at Atlantic Health for bringing this intervention to New Jersey and believing in my goal to regain hand and arm function so I can knit again, use utensils to eat and write with my affected hand."

Discover how you can offer hope to stroke survivors with Vivistim at Vivistim.com. Tap to review the clinical bibliography and safety information.

About MicroTransponder^®, Inc.

MicroTransponder^®, Inc. is a privately held, global medical device company based in Austin, Texas, committed to developing research-based neuroscience solutions. The company focuses on restoring dignity for people suffering from neurological conditions that impair sensory and motor function. MicroTransponder's FDA-approved Vivistim^® Paired VNS™ System is a first-of-its-kind, clinically proven medical technology that generates two to three times more improvement in upper limb function than traditional therapy for stroke survivors after six weeks of in-clinic occupational or physical therapy. For more information, visit Vivistim.com and review safety information at Vivistim.com/safety.

Media contact: Kristin Strauder, [email protected], 850-524-5395

SOURCE MicroTransponder Inc.