Empower BP is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of implantable spinal cord stimulation for managing blood-pressure instability after spinal cord injury. The randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study is expected to involve about 20 neurorehabilitation and neurosurgical research centers in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom. Twelve U.S. sites were active and recruiting when the update was released.
ARC-IM remains investigational and is not available for commercial use. Onward Medical separately develops ARC-BCI, which pairs a BCI with spinal stimulation to restore movement. Empower BP is not that upper-limb restoration program, and its first implant did not take place in the Netherlands.