My daughters model 100, over 6 years old, is due to be replaced very soon. One doc recommended the model 102 as it is less expensive than the model 103 and wont impact her financially quite as bad. Anyone with experience on the financial facts of the newer models? A basic cost/benefit analysis?
Thanks

:D HI 64duo and :Welcome: to the VNS Message Board!

I see you've been a member since May, 2008, but this is your 1st post! Good to hear from you, and hope to keep hearing from you.

My experience is with the 102 model. Quite a costly lil thing-in the area of $55,000. There are a lot of problems with the 102 in the area of malfunctioning and lead problems. I haven't heard much negative about the 103 in those areas and have heard it is smaller which in my opinion would be more comfortable.

The FDA website has info on the 102 & 103 models in their MAUDE reports. This is where people report adverse events, side effects, & malfunctioning devices. Go to www.fda.gov/cdrh and then search manufacturer Cyberonics and click on the ones you are interested in reading about.

Hope you & your daughter are doing well, and she is having great success with VNS. Take care and please come back & update us.

B)

Hi 64Duo,

I wish I could give you the answers you are looking for however I had the 102 implanted, so don't know much about the 103 other than what others have reported on here about it. I can tell you that implantation for mine was around $75,000 for everything (surgeon, hospital, anesthesia, etc).

Dispatch gave you some very good ideas regarding reading the Maude reports on the FDA website. Since you can see which model was implanted, you will get a better picture.

I take it that your daughter has done well over the past 6 years on VNS. It would be nice to hear how it as helped her as it is important for those researching VNS on this site to hear how VNS has impacted lives.

Stay in touch and hope to hear from you soon.

Hugs,
Cindy

Well i need to update this info.
My daughters model is actually a Model 101. It was implanted 6 years ago. We thought we were at the final stages of it's battery life. So we have visited the surgeon and started the process to upgrade to a new generator. However the insurance has required a visit to her doctor for a current interogation report from the unit. She hadnt been seen by the doc for about 8 months so she had an appointment and the doc sent in her report to Cyberonic engineers who now say that their calculations show 5 years of battery life left in her unit. Even though it is calculated simply using the on-time, duration, pulse etc. it doesn't take in the battery activated generations, so even if you take off 2 years for that she still has 3 years or so of time.
Anyone here had a model 101 battery last for 9-10 years?

No, sorry! The battery of my son`s 101 was just enough for 6 years.
But we had to replace before it was empty.
His settings were quite high, 2,50 and 5 minutes off, 30 sec. on.

At lower settings, it will be longer, of course.

Does your daughter have the vns for epilepsy or for trd?

Overhere i know only people wit vns for e., and there is no one that had it that long.

I know one person, they told her that the battery should be strong enough, for her disabled son.
Well, they got in an ambulance, because it wasn`t. :So Sad:

Later on, with a new one, he was well again!

My daughter has the generator for epilepsy. Her settings are 1.75 output, signal freq 30, pulse width 250, on time 30 sec, off time 5 minutes. Magnet output is 2.0.

:D HI 64duo!

My guess is her battery is close to being depleated considering the setting she is at. I was told by Cyberonics the battery doesn't last as many years at higher settings.

Hope all is going good for you and your family! Take great care!
B)

Hi 64 duo,

I agree totally with Dispatch!
This battery,on these settings, should be replaced in a certain short time.
Tell the doctors, you don`t want to take the risk, the battert is empty before!

Take good care.

Sincerelly, Hendrina.