I still need to know the specifics about the Medtronic Synchromed2
intrathecal pump that is available for clinical trial in the US. I
thought maybe now someone can help!!!! It is not available for the
general public. I know that there are about 10 hospitals that are
performing these clinical trials, and my Dad needs to get one for his
cancer pain. He has been told that he can not get the current
Synchromed 1 pump that is shaped like a hockey
puck. The new one is supposed to be more spherical, thinner and may
be OK for
him. Intrathecal pumps are implanted by Pain Doctors or sometimes
anesthesia docotrs. He is in serious pain, and needs one - but we can
not find out where to go. The company will not tell us. I think
there must be someone out there who used to work for the company who
can tell me where these clinical trials are going on. I would also
like to know more about these new pumps. How are they really
different between the current one that he can not get.
I do not need to know what is an intrathecal pump or
anything about the current intrathecal pumps that you can see on the
Medtronics website. This is a brand new pump that is coming out that
is somehow different from the one that is out there now. We have
heard it is more futuristic looking and sleeker and does not need to
be refilled as often which would be good for him. Thanks for helping.
We understood that the Synchromed 2trial was started, and then when we
called Medtronic they said all the trials are now "closed". She said
they had been working on the newSynchromed2 for a few years and
beleived it might be getting close tobeing submitted to FDA soon?
This did not agree with two people, oneguy in the New England area who
said that they were just gettingstarted. We also heard that the new
Synchromed2 can hold 20 and 40mlwhich would really help in the time to
refill, but that somehow theymade them more streamlined, spherical and
not as angular as SynchroMedI (the hockey puck one). That part is
really important to my Dadbecause of his physical shape.I do not know
the sizes of the new Synchromed2 pump and how much theyhold, but that
is important to know. |
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
30 Mar 2003 15:21 PST
Hello Crystal4290,
I know you have posted several questions here on this very topic, and
it's also clear that you haven't yet gotten the answer you are hoping
for. So allow me to make a suggestion that will allow the researchers
to do the best job possible.
Tell us what you already know about the Synchromed-2. Where did you
hear about it? What leads you to think clinical trials are underway?
How certain are you about its shape, capacity, etc? The more you can
tell us about the information sources you are already aware of, the
more we can focus our research.
So far, I have seen no evidence of clinical trials anywhere in the
world on a device that fits your description of the Synchromed-2. By
answering the above questions, you might help me -- or another
researcher -- target our efforts.
|
Clarification of Question by
crystal4290-ga
on
30 Mar 2003 17:52 PST
Thank you for your help. We know that there are clinical trials
goling on in the US at some of the mojor pain centers - but can not
find out where. I want to know more about the pump itself - what
size is it? How long will it last once he has surgery and gets it put
in. The current SynchroMed is supposed to last about 5 years, but we
have heard that the new one will go maybe twice as long. This would
make it much better for my Dad. I want to know what else there is
special about the pump. I do not know wht it is so secret if a big
company like Medtronic is making it. I know that when you have a
trial, and put medical products in people that alot of the information
about that product is supposed to be infomation that the general
public and future patients are supposed to hve access to. I do not
know how to get the information. I would even consider paying more
money if this would help to find out. Please help.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
30 Mar 2003 19:01 PST
You wrote:
"We know that there are clinical trials goling on in the US at
some of the mojor pain centers "
My question to you is, HOW do you know this?
Answer this, and I might be able to help track down what's going on.
|
Request for Question Clarification by
techtor-ga
on
31 Mar 2003 02:17 PST
I would just like to know, is your main concern acquiring the
Synchromed 2 pump? And should this not be possible, would you accept
another brand's pump if it fits the requirements for your father's
treatment?
|
