Restaurant owner Tommy Fello suffered a stroke, leaving him with numbness in his left arm and leg. Despite physical therapy, he struggled to recover. However, after learning about the Vivistim System, an FDA-approved implant that uses vagus nerve stimulation to improve hand and arm function, Fello received the device.
The Vivistim Therapy system involves a therapist sending wireless signals to the device during rehabilitation exercises. The device delivers a brief pulse to the vagus nerve, enhancing brain plasticity and resulting in significant improvements in motor function for stroke survivors. A 108-person trial published in The Lancet found that the device generated two to three times greater improvement in hand and arm function compared to traditional rehab.
Fello’s progress has been remarkable, with no pain or tension in his limb after four months of using the implant. He is now practicing using his left arm to carry items, a task he could not do before. Dr. Mark Bain, Fello’s surgeon, reported that the procedure itself is low-risk and the device has enabled patients like Fello to make significant gains in their recovery.
The Vivistim System offers hope for stroke survivors struggling with limited hand and arm function. With 800,000 people experiencing an ischemic stroke each year in the US, new technologies like this may revolutionize rehabilitation and enable patients to regain their lives. As Dr. Sharon Covey notes, “This is a new technology that’s really going to turn the stroke recovery world upside down.”
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tommy-fello-cleveland-clinic-vivistim-system-stroke-recovery-technology