FDA expands WaveWriter Alpha spinal cord stimulators to painful diabetic neuropathy

Boston Scientific/WaveWriter Alpha SCS

The FDA approved WaveWriter Alpha for leg and foot pain caused by diabetic nerve damage. It opens spinal cord stimulation to a large, fast-growing group of patients as a non-opioid option.

• About 37 million Americans have diabetes; roughly half will develop neuropathy.
• Includes a setting that relieves pain without the tingling older stimulators cause.
• Earlier approval (Dec 2020) covered chronic trunk and limb pain, including failed back surgery.