Objective: To examine the differences between Actual Activa PC longevity and the estimated longevity of the Percept PC, utilizing identical contact configurations and programming parameters. Further programming sessions for the Percept PC were performed examining both the benefit and longevity.

Background: The Activa PC 37601 released in May of 2009 was promoted as having a duration of 2-5 years. In our hands, the average longevity of 65 initially implanted Activa PCs was 3.90 years. In June of 2020 Medtronic received FDA approval for its Percept PC B35200, with claims that on average it would last longer than 5 years. We examined these claims by comparing the actual longevity of Activa PCs, to their subsequent exchanged Percept PC estimates.

Method: The longevity, of a series of Activa PC to Percept PC device exchanges in 20 individuals and subsequent programming sessions were examined. The individuals were originally implanted with Activa PCs bilaterally targeting the subthalamic nucleus for Parkinson’s. The final parameters and contact configurations of the depleted Activa PC were carried over to the newly implanted replacement Percept PCs, starting in August of 2020 until November of 2021. At the initial post-exchange visit occurring within 30 days, the longevity estimate was analyzed. At subsequent programming sessions, changes were examined for benefit and longevity. Sessions, where no changes were made were not analyzed.

Results: The average longevity of the Activa PCs was 3.79 years. Data could not be completed for 4/20 individuals. The next visit after the device exchange indicated an average estimated longevity of 5.13 years with an average increase of 1.31 years (p=0.006). Although 3/4 of the individuals exhibited increases in estimated longevity, 1/4 showed a downturn of up to 6 months. Follow up programming sessions for 9/16 individuals revealed changes that further increased the longevity to an average of 6.33 years with an average increase from of 2.73 years (p=0.006) over the original Activa PC longevity.

Conclusion: The Activa PC duration of 3.79 years matches our previous Activa PC duration. The same parameters implemented in the Percept PC resulted in a predicted longevity of 5.13 years , matching Medtronic claims. Finally, programming changes could further be implemented increasing the longevity estimates to 6.33 years.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/within-patient-comparison-of-neurostimulator-longevity-sequentially-contrasting-the-medtronic-activa-pc-to-the-medtronic-percept-pc-utilizing-in-device-battery-estimates/