Abbott Stimulator Cases: Is Yours Part of It?

Which Abbott devices are named in these lawsuits?

The group covers lawsuits by people who say an Abbott spinal cord stimulator hurt them. The panel’s order does not name models. Lawsuits we read name Proclaim and Eterna systems.

One Chicago lawsuit in the group says the plaintiff received an Eterna system in October 2023. In another, Abbott describes the device as a Proclaim Elite placed in February 2022.

Newer lawsuits in other courts name the Proclaim XR5 and the Proclaim XR, model 3660. A Florida lawsuit names the Proclaim DRG, model 3664. These cases were not in the first group, and the panel may add some later. The names are what the lawsuits say, not a court list.

Abbott told the panel it sells many different stimulator models. It also pointed to three lawsuits with claims about defects that no other case raised.

Why might my records say St. Jude Medical or ANS?

Abbott’s stimulators come from older companies. The FDA first approved this line in 2001. A lawsuit says that approval went to a company called ANS. The lawsuit says St. Jude Medical later bought ANS. Abbott’s court papers say Abbott now owns St. Jude.

ANS stands for Advanced Neuromodulation Systems. FDA’s record for that 2001 approval, number P010032, now lists Abbott Medical as the applicant. It covers the Genesis and Eon family of stimulators. In a court filing, Abbott said ANS designs and makes the device in that case. It said ANS is owned through St. Jude Medical, whose sole member is Abbott.

Newer models were added to that approval over time. FDA approved the Eterna system as a supplement in December 2022. So an older record that says ANS or St. Jude Medical may still point to this group of products.

Where does the Abbott case stand now?

It just began. The panel created it on October 2, 2026, and gave it to Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins in Chicago. As of October 5, we found no orders from her court in the new case.

In June 2026, the panel could not group the Abbott cases. The four cases in that request were all in one court. Lawyers asked again on June 22, 2026, with 15 cases from several courts. The panel heard arguments in Chicago on September 24.

Before the transfer, most of the Chicago cases were with Judge Mary M. Rowland. In one of them, she said discovery was on hold until she ruled on Abbott’s request to dismiss. Abbott told the panel that seven such requests were fully briefed. The panel said grouping may briefly delay rulings but will make that briefing simpler for all cases.

The court papers we read set no trial date and announce no settlement. On October 5, the Chicago court’s web page of grouped cases did not list this one yet.

Can a lawsuit filed later join the Abbott group?

It can. The order counted 26 cases, but only 15 were in the first group. The rest, and lawsuits filed later in other federal courts, may be added by the panel. Having an Abbott device does not by itself make you part of the group.

Since August, Abbott, the FDA and one plaintiff have told the panel about more related lawsuits. The panel said it will consider one Texas lawsuit later. We found no order yet on how new Abbott cases should be filed.

Are Abbott stimulator recalls part of the case?

Not directly. The case is about injury claims. Recalls are separate safety steps. Abbott started them, and the FDA tracks them. Since 2023, FDA records show three recalls of Abbott stimulator battery units.

In 2023, FDA called a Proclaim recall the most serious type. Some patients could not leave the MRI setting on their battery unit. FDA said 155,028 units in the U.S. were affected, including some brain stimulators. It counted 73 reported injuries and no deaths. It said some patients may need surgery to replace the unit.

In 2024, Abbott said some Proclaim batteries might run out sooner after a low-battery warning than its labels said. In 2025, Abbott recalled some Eterna units that could lose contact with the programmer or patient controller. It asked that unused units not be implanted. It also gave doctors steps for patients who already have one.

Some lawsuits describe the 2023 recall as being about shocks and sudden shutdowns. The FDA notice and Abbott say it was about the MRI setting. Ask your doctor whether a recall applies to your device before you change anything.