What the Abbott Labs spinal cord stimulator portfolio includes
The Abbott Labs spinal cord stimulator portfolio refers to Abbott Laboratories’ neuromodulation systems marketed through Abbott Medical. It includes the Proclaim™ XR and Proclaim™ Plus recharge-free spinal cord stimulation systems, as well as the Eterna™ rechargeable SCS system. These implantable devices are designed to help manage chronic, intractable pain by delivering electrical pulses through leads placed near the spinal cord. They do not treat the underlying disease, and they are generally considered only after clinician-led evaluation and a successful trial stimulation period.
As of October 2026, the portfolio is best understood through its expanding indications, MRI labeling, digital programming features and safety communications rather than through one single product launch. For readers following the wider market for spinal devices, Abbott’s SCS platform shows how neuromodulation has become a connected therapy category. Device selection now requires attention to efficacy, battery strategy, imaging access and post-implant risk management.
How Abbott spinal cord stimulation works
A spinal cord stimulation system typically includes an implantable pulse generator, one or more leads, external programming tools and a patient controller. The pulse generator is implanted under the skin, usually near the hip or buttock area. It sends low-intensity electrical pulses through leads positioned in the epidural space, with the goal of modifying pain signaling before it is perceived as severe chronic pain.
Abbott’s systems can deliver tonic stimulation and BurstDR™ stimulation. Tonic stimulation uses a more continuous pattern, while BurstDR uses grouped pulses intended to mimic natural firing patterns in the nervous system. FDA summaries for Abbott systems distinguish between these modes for certain indications. For example, FDA public materials state that non-surgical back pain may be treated with tonic and BurstDR modes, while diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is tied to tonic stimulation in the relevant labeling.
In clinical and purchasing discussions, the technology choice quickly becomes practical. Patients and care teams may weigh fewer recharging tasks, MRI access, remote programming options, implant size and expected energy use. Abbott’s portfolio is built around those trade-offs rather than around one universal device.
Key systems in the portfolio
Proclaim XR
Proclaim XR is a recharge-free SCS platform associated with Abbott’s low-dose BurstDR approach. Abbott announced U.S. FDA approval of Proclaim XR in September 2019 and described the system as offering battery life of up to 10 years at low-dose settings. The qualifier matters: actual battery life depends on programming, stimulation intensity, use pattern and patient-specific factors.
Proclaim Plus
Proclaim Plus is also a recharge-free SCS system. FDA PMA records show approval of new Proclaim SCS implantable pulse generator models in August 2022. Abbott positions Proclaim Plus as a system that can tailor therapy across multiple pain areas, including use of FlexBurst360™ therapy. In practice, this may make Proclaim Plus relevant when pain patterns are complex or change over time, although final device selection remains a clinician decision.
Eterna
Eterna is Abbott’s rechargeable SCS system. FDA PMA records show commercial distribution approval for Eterna on December 16, 2022. Abbott describes Eterna as a small rechargeable implant with Xtend™ energy technology and states that, under specified nominal BurstDR programming assumptions, charging can be reduced to about five times per year. Because that claim depends on programming assumptions, it should be read as a labeled performance scenario, not as a guarantee for every patient.
Regulatory and product timeline
The Abbott SCS story is easier to follow as a timeline. The dates below focus on public FDA records, Abbott announcements and safety communications that affect how these systems are discussed in 2026.
| Date | Milestone | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| December 3, 2001 | Original PMA P010032 approval for Abbott-related SCS therapy lineage | Established the regulatory base for chronic intractable pain indications, including failed back surgery syndrome and intractable low back and leg pain. |
| September 2019 | Proclaim XR became a major Abbott-branded recharge-free SCS platform | Abbott emphasized low-dose BurstDR therapy and battery longevity of up to 10 years at low-dose settings. |
| January 4, 2022 | Abbott announced expanded MRI compatibility for Proclaim XR with Octrode™ leads | Expanded MRI labeling made imaging access a more central differentiator for Abbott SCS systems. |
| August 19, 2022 | FDA approved new Proclaim SCS IPG models associated with Proclaim Plus | Supported Abbott’s next recharge-free platform within the Proclaim family. |
| December 16, 2022 | FDA approved commercial distribution of Eterna SCS | Added a rechargeable Abbott SCS option with a smaller implant profile and a lower charging-burden positioning. |
| January 24, 2023 and May 10, 2023 | FDA records expanded Abbott SCS indications for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy and non-surgical back pain across relevant systems | Broadened the clinical conversation beyond post-surgical back pain, while preserving mode-specific labeling limits. |
| January 13, 2026 | FDA approved labeling changes for prone MRI positioning for Eterna and Proclaim SCS systems | Prone positioning can matter for breast, hand, elbow and other exams where face-down imaging may be needed. |
| September 23, 2026 | FDA approved a manufacturing material change involving encapsulant used in printed circuit board assemblies for Proclaim SCS, Proclaim DRG and Infinity DBS IPGs | This was a manufacturing supplement, not a new pain indication, but it shows ongoing lifecycle management of the platform. |
MRI access is a major differentiator, but it is conditional
MRI compatibility is one of the most important evaluation points for any implanted neurostimulation system. Abbott’s current materials state that certain Abbott neurostimulation systems are MR Conditional. In practice, that means MRI scans may be performed only when specified device, lead, programming, scanner and patient-positioning conditions are met. It does not mean every implant is automatically MRI safe in every setting.
The 2026 FDA labeling expansion for prone MRI positioning is meaningful because many diagnostic scans are not ideally performed with a patient lying on the back. Abbott announced at the North American Neuromodulation Society 2026 Annual Meeting that prone MRI approval applied to its chronic pain portfolio, including the Proclaim SCS family, Eterna SCS and Proclaim DRG systems. The practical effect is broader imaging flexibility for new and existing eligible patients, subject to labeling requirements.
MRI access also introduces operational risk. In 2023, the FDA classified an Abbott recall involving Proclaim and Infinity implantable pulse generators as Class I because some patients were unable to exit MRI mode after the patient controller lost communication with the implantable pulse generator. FDA materials reported 186 incidents and 73 injuries, with no deaths reported. Abbott’s patient instructions emphasize keeping the controller charged and paired, avoiding app or operating system changes while in MRI mode, and contacting the physician, Abbott representative or technical support if MRI mode cannot be disabled. See also: Implants.
Safety and lifecycle issues to evaluate
Public safety information around Abbott SCS systems should be read carefully. A recall or advisory does not necessarily mean every implanted system has the same issue, but it does mean clinicians and patients should confirm model numbers, software versions, controller requirements and the corrective actions that apply to a specific device.
- MRI mode communication: The 2023 FDA Class I recall focused on inability to exit MRI mode in certain Proclaim and related systems if controller or programmer communication was lost.
- Eterna communication issue: FDA recall records in 2025 described a Class II recall involving Eterna SCS IPG Model 32400 and Liberta RC DBS IPG Model 62400 for a potential loss of communication with clinician or patient controllers. The notice directed affected devices not to be implanted and to be removed from consignee inventory.
- Electrosurgery and Surgery Mode: An April 2026 Abbott physician communication reminded providers that Proclaim SCS and DRG systems have a Surgery Mode feature intended to help protect implanted devices during procedures using electrosurgical units. Abbott reported 2025 additional-surgery rates of 0.55% for SCS and 0.24% for DRG in this context, with no patient harm reported beyond the need for additional surgery to restore therapy.
- General implant risks: Abbott safety information lists potential adverse events including lead migration, infection, pain at the implant site, undesirable stimulation changes, lead failure, battery failure and, in rare cases, neurological injury. Patients with diabetes may face higher infection and wound-healing risks.
How to compare Proclaim and Eterna in practical terms
The main choice within Abbott’s SCS portfolio is often recharge-free versus rechargeable. Neither approach is automatically superior. The decision depends on the patient’s pain pattern, stimulation settings, expected energy use, willingness to recharge, anatomy, MRI needs and the clinician’s experience with lead placement and programming.
| Decision point | Proclaim XR or Proclaim Plus | Eterna |
|---|---|---|
| Battery approach | Recharge-free, with longevity dependent on settings and use | Rechargeable, designed for longer-term use with periodic charging |
| Patient burden | No routine charging, but eventual replacement surgery may be needed when the battery reaches end of service | Requires charging behavior, but may reduce replacement frequency for high-energy users |
| Therapy positioning | Associated with BurstDR and, for Proclaim Plus, multi-area tailoring features | Associated with rechargeable performance, small implant profile and upgradeable software positioning |
| MRI considerations | MR Conditional under approved conditions; controller pairing and MRI mode management are especially important | MR Conditional under approved conditions, including 2026 prone-position labeling for eligible configurations |
Clinical evidence should also be reviewed in context. Abbott announced five-year real-world and clinical data at NANS 2026, including an average 75% reduction in pain-related healthcare visits after five years of SCS use in one retrospective analysis and 92% patient preference for BurstDR in a separate 127-patient study. These data points are relevant to market and clinical discussions, but they should be interpreted alongside full study design, publication status, patient selection and the treating physician’s assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Abbott Labs spinal cord stimulator the same as Proclaim?
Not exactly. Proclaim XR and Proclaim Plus are Abbott spinal cord stimulation systems, but Abbott’s broader SCS portfolio also includes Eterna and legacy systems. “Abbott Labs spinal cord stimulator” is a common search phrase for Abbott Laboratories’ neuromodulation products rather than one single device name.
Can Abbott SCS treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy?
FDA records support Abbott SCS use for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities under specific labeling, with tonic stimulation specified for that indication. Patients with diabetes require careful risk evaluation because infection, wound healing and blood glucose control can affect surgical outcomes.
Is an Abbott spinal cord stimulator MRI safe?
Some Abbott systems are MR Conditional, which means MRI may be allowed only when all approved conditions are met. Device model, lead type, lead location, scanner settings, patient position and MRI mode management all matter. A patient should not assume MRI eligibility without the implant card, current device records and clinician confirmation.
How long does the battery last?
Abbott states that Proclaim XR and Proclaim Plus can provide up to 10 years of battery life at low-dose settings. Actual longevity depends on stimulation settings and use. Eterna is rechargeable, so the relevant questions are charging frequency and long-term battery management rather than a fixed non-rechargeable battery life.
What should patients ask before choosing an Abbott SCS system?
Important questions include whether trial stimulation produced meaningful pain relief, which indication is being treated, which waveform will be used, whether MRI is likely in the future, how charging or replacement will be managed, what safety advisories apply to the exact model, and how the care team handles programming after implantation.
This article is for industry education and device-market context. It does not replace FDA-approved labeling, a physician’s judgment or individualized medical advice.