Stryker , a global frontrunner in medical technology, has obtained 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its OptaBlate basivertebral nerve ablation (BVN) system. This minimally invasive, image‑guided solution is engineered to deliver long‑lasting relief from vertebrogenic low‑back pain, reinforcing Stryker’s pain‑management portfolio by uniting its deep expertise in radiofrequency ablation and vertebral access.
Patients suffering chronic lumbar pain tied to damaged vertebral endplates frequently cycle through physical therapy, injections, and medications without enduring improvement. “Many exhaust conventional options with no lasting benefit,” explained Dr. Jad Khalil of Michigan Orthopaedic Surgeons. “BVN ablation targets a key pain generator in carefully selected patients who display specific MRI findings. For them, it can provide meaningful, durable relief and delay or eliminate the need for more aggressive surgery.”
OptaBlate BVN brings several engineering innovations that simplify the procedure and promote consistent outcomes. Its generator–probe system produces a lesion of at least 1 cm in about seven minutes. A steerable, dynamically curved introducer permits accurate navigation within the vertebral body, while proprietary micro‑infusion technology irrigates the ablation zone to keep impedance low and prevent tissue charring. The platform also employs familiar 10‑gauge access tools, streamlining adoption for interventional spine specialists.
“Radiofrequency ablation is woven into Stryker’s heritage, and we remain committed to pioneering treatments that safeguard and elevate quality of life,” stated Kristen Berg, vice president and general manager of Stryker’s Interventional Spine division. “OptaBlate BVN allows us to help the underserved population living with chronic vertebrogenic lumbar pain.”
Stryker will unveil OptaBlate BVN alongside its broader pain portfolio at the American Society of Pain & Neuroscience Annual Meeting, taking place July 17–20 in Miami, Florida