Medtronic has entered a distribution agreement with Merit Medical Systems to offer the FDA-cleared ViaVerte system, described as the first and only basivertebral nerve ablation system with a physician-controlled steerable mechanism for precise nerve targeting. The minimally invasive, implant-free procedure addresses chronic lower back pain caused by damaged vertebral endplates and will be available later in 2026.
The agreement expands Medtronic’s pain interventions portfolio, which already includes spinal cord stimulation, vertebral augmentation, nerve ablation, bone tumor ablation, and targeted drug delivery. Merit Medical currently supplies Medtronic with balloon catheter components used in kyphoplasty procedures, making this an extension of an existing business relationship.
Paolo Di Vincenzo, president of Medtronic Neuromodulation, said the addition “gives patients and their physicians another meaningful option for lasting relief.” According to the American Chronic Pain Association, approximately one in three Americans experience some form of chronic pain, underscoring the market demand for new treatment options.