Nalu Medical Micro-IPG

Overview

Nalu Medical has developed the Nalu Neurostimulation System, featuring the world's smallest rechargeable implantable pulse generator (micro-IPG) for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). The micro-IPG is the size of a fingertip and is implanted directly at the stimulation site — adjacent to the spinal cord or peripheral nerve — rather than in a remote body pocket connected by long lead wires, as in conventional SCS systems. An external wearable patch communicates with the implant wirelessly and provides power via near-field magnetic induction, enabling wireless recharging without wired connections while allowing the patient to wear the patch discreetly under clothing. Pain management specialists, neurosurgeons, and anesthesiologists use Nalu's system for patients with chronic pain from failed back surgery syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), peripheral neuropathy, and post-amputation pain. The miniaturized implant's anatomical placement — directly at the target nerve — enables more precise stimulation with lower energy requirements than conventional distant-IPG approaches, and the absence of a separate lead extension wire eliminates a common failure mode in traditional SCS systems. FDA clearance for the Nalu system was obtained in 2019. Nalu Medical's key differentiations are implant miniaturization, lead-wire elimination, and wireless power transfer without a large transcutaneous coil or external battery pack. The micro-IPG form factor opens SCS therapy to patients who previously declined implantable devices due to concerns about body image, surgical recovery, or MRI incompatibility. The system is fully MRI-conditional at 1.5T and 3T, a significant advantage over older SCS devices. Nalu has received funding from Sutter Hill Ventures and other medtech investors and is expanding its commercial footprint across major US pain management centers.

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