Liberta RC DBS by Abbott Laboratories: status and timeline

Liberta RC DBS

Smallest rechargeable DBS system for Parkinson's and essential tremor. Compatible with NeuroSphere virtual clinic.

DeployStage 4 of 5

FDA approved Jan 2024. Smallest rechargeable DBS, 10 recharges/year. NeuroSphere virtual clinic.

Updated Sep 2024Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Market launch and adoption

St. Jude Medical acquisitionJan 2017Complete.
Liberta RC development2020Complete.
FDA approval for Liberta RCJan 2024Complete.
Market launch and adoptionTarget Q1 2024Current milestone.

Most important updates

Upcoming

Q1 2024Market launch and adoption (next)

Current obstacles

Electrode placement accuracyPrecise placement in deep brain regions requires specialist expertise. Misplacement reduces efficacy.
Market competition and adoptionMedtronic and Boston Scientific have larger installed bases; Abbott must build physician relationships.

Physics limits

Movement disorder complexityParkinson's involves multiple brain regions; stimulation helps but doesn't normalize all motor control.
Individual variation in responseSymptom severity, disease duration, and brain anatomy vary widely; prediction of individual outcome is difficult.
Battery capacity and device sizeLithium-ion batteries have limited energy density; efficiency comes partly from electronics and patient willingness to recharge.

How it works

3 parts

Placement

Brain implantation

Electrodes implanted surgically in subthalamic nucleus or globus pallidus for Parkinson's or essential tremor.

Stimulation

Electrical impulses

Device delivers pulses that normalize neural firing in basal ganglia, reducing motor symptoms.

Programming

Remote titration

NeuroSphere app lets patients adjust settings remotely without requiring specialist visits.

Spec sheet

Spec	Liberta RC DBS
Size vs. other devices	31% smaller^R (reported)
Recharges per year	10^R (reported)
Max time between recharges	37 days^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

2 updates

Sep 2024

Major: Abbott initiates TRANSCEND trial to evaluate DBS for treatment-resistant depressionPressResearch

Jan 2024

Major: FDA approves Abbott Liberta RC as smallest rechargeable DBS with remote programmingPressRegulatory

About Abbott Laboratories

The team behind Liberta RC DBS

Abbott Laboratories

Neuromodulation, DBS, spinal cord stimulation, medical devices

Abbott manufactures neuromodulation devices through St. Jude Medical (acquired 2017). Makes Liberta RC DBS for Parkinson's and Eterna SCS for chronic pain.

Abbott acquired St. Jude Medical in 2017 for $25B, entering neuromodulation. Now builds DBS and SCS.
Liberta RC is smallest rechargeable DBS approved, needs 10 recharges/year, compatible with NeuroSphere virtual clinic.
No. 1 in SCS market post-acquisition; competes with Medtronic and Boston Scientific in DBS.

abbott.com (opens abbott.com)Company profile →

Founded: 1888138 yrs
Headquarters: United States
Status: Public
Valuation: public
Staff: ~114,000Jan 2026
Works in: NeurotechStimulation therapies
Coverage: 2 programs · 4 updateslatest 1 Sep 2024checked 10 Oct
Partners: FDA (opens fda.gov)
Acquired by: St. Jude Medical (opens abbott.com)

Spec

Liberta RC DBS

Size vs. other devices

31% smaller^R (reported)

Recharges per year

10^R (reported)

Max time between recharges

37 days^R (reported)