years, an estimated 6,596 DBS devices were implanted in 2014 in the
United States.
SCSs are typically placed by physicians who specialize in pain control,
and in recent years those implantations occur in an outpatient setting,
which, as always, complicates the computation of devices used. A
scholarly article in Neuromodulation in 2009 concluded that 4,000 SCS
systems are implanted each year in the United States; this was rebutted by
a thoughtful letter by the immediate past president of the North American
Neuromodulation Society, who concluded the 2007 number to be over
27,000 SCS implant operations—a stunning difference.^61 The only recent
credible source of neuromodulation device implantation rates comes from
industry sources. One such report shows that, in 2014, there were
approximately three times more spinal cord stimulators placed than deep-
brain stimulators^62 ; thus, in 2014, there were an estimated 20,000 SCSs
placed in the United States. Similarly, there were 7,000 sacral nerve
stimulator and 2,000 vagus nerve stimulator operations in 2014. All told,
there were approximately 35,000 neuromodulation operations performed
in America in 2014.
Combined, there were 77,000 central and peripheral nervous system
implant operations in 2014.
OTOLARYNGOLOGYThe cochlear implant is perhaps the greatest success story among medical
implantable devices. The only device to restore one of the five senses, the
cochlear implant arguably achieves the most satisfying emotional results.
The worldwide market for cochlear implants is about 50,000 devices per
year, and as of December 2012, 28 percent of all cochlear devices have
been implanted in the United States.^63 ,^64 Therefore, an estimated 14,000
cochlear implants were inserted in the United States in 2014. There were
also a small number of middle ear implants performed in that year, but
this number is privately guarded by industry.
Sinus surgery, although common, entails the use of a temporary device,
and therefore will not be included in this permanent implant calculation.
Similarly, tympanic ear tubes are also temporary implants and not counted
here.