lördag 8 augusti 2026

Hospitals Using MICS - Questions and Answers

 

Hospitals Using MICS - Questions and Answers

U.S. English translation of the conversation section from: "Which hospital institutions in Sweden use MICS?" to:

"Make a perfect PDF copy of everything in the 'hospitals using MICS' file."

Question:

Which hospital institutions in Sweden use MICS?

Answer:

There is no public list of which Swedish hospitals use MICS (Medical Implant Communication Service/MedRadio 402-405 MHz). This is because MICS is not a hospital system in itself, but a radio standard built into certain medical implants. ([researchgate.net](https://www.researchgate.net/publica tion/307999477_Review_of_Medical_Implant_Communication_System_MICS_band_and_network?utm_s ource=chatgpt.com))

However, implants with MICS/MedRadio are likely used at most major university hospitals that implant or follow up advanced medical devices, for example:

-   Karolinska University Hospital

-   Sahlgrenska University Hospital

-   Skane University Hospital

-   Uppsala University Hospital

-   Linkoping University Hospital

-   Norrland University Hospital

-   Orebro University Hospital

At these hospitals, treatments include, for example:

-   cardiac pacemakers,

-   implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs),

-   neurostimulators,

-   certain drug pumps,

-   other active medical implants with wireless telemetry. Many of these have historically used the MICSband or the broader MedRadio standard for programming and readout. ([researchgate.net](https://ww

w.researchgate.net/publication/307999477_Review_of_Medical_Implant_Communication_System_MICS _band_and_network?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

Since you have previously worked with Microchip ZL70103 and Microchip ZL70323, it may be useful to know that these circuits were developed specifically for MICS/MedRadio-based communication with medical implants. They may appear in commercial implant systems, but manufacturers of medical devices normally do not publicly state exactly which RF chips are used. ([scripps.ucsd.edu](https://scri pps.ucsd.edu/system/files/2021-01/2007-08%20STF%20-%20Zarlink%20ULP%20transceivers.pdf?utm_ source=chatgpt.com))

If your question instead concerns which Swedish hospitals use implants from, for example, Medtronic, Abbott, Boston Scientific, or Biotronik that communicate via MICS/MedRadio, I can compile a more detailed list of which implants and programmer systems are used in Swedish healthcare.

Question:

Yes, list them.

Answer:

Yes. Officially, one can list hospitals that implant pacemakers/ICDs/CRT devices, but not exactly which ones use MICS/MedRadio, because the radio technology is inside the implants and is rarely stated openly.

The Swedish ICD and Pacemaker Registry lists, among others, these implanting hospitals in 2024:

Major/clear MICS-relevant centers

-   Karolinska University Hospital

-   Danderyd Hospital

-   Sodersjukhuset

-   St. Goran's Hospital

-   Uppsala University Hospital

-   Sahlgrenska University Hospital- Sahlgrenska/Ostra

-   Skane University Hospital, Lund

-   Skane University Hospital, Malmo

-   Linkoping University Hospital

-   Orebro University Hospital

-   Norrland University Hospital, Umea

-   Sunderby Hospital

-   Falun Hospital

-   Gavle Hospital

-   Central Hospital Karlstad

-   Central Hospital Vasteras

-   Ryhov County Hospital

-   Kalmar County Hospital

-   Blekinge Hospital

-   Vaxjo Central Hospital

-   Central Hospital Kristianstad

-   Helsingborg Hospital

-   Varberg Hospital

-   Skaraborg Hospital Skovde

-   Sodra Alvsborg Hospital Boras

-   NAL Trollhattan

The registry also shows smaller implanting units such as Skelleftea, Solleftea, Sundsvall, Ornskoldsvik, Ostersund, Vastervik, Visby, Hudiksvall, Malar Hospital, Torsby, Alingsas, and Kungalv. ([pacemakerreg istret.se](https://pacemakerregistret.se/docbank/public/documents/download/0qGmYbd----OZrSW9Y0k hzAj))

Most important: this does not mean that "ZL70103/ZL70323 are proven to be used there"; it means that these hospitals handle implant types where wireless implant telemetry, sometimes

MICS/MedRadio or another manufacturer-specific standard, may occur. The Pacemaker Registry shows that Abbott, Medtronic, Biotronik, and Boston Scientific are major manufacturers in Sweden. ([pacema kerregistret.se](https://pacemakerregistret.se/docbank/public/documents/download/0qGmYbd----OZrS W9Y0khzAj))

Question:

Can you name which ones use neurostimulators?

Answer:

Yes. Several Swedish university hospitals implant different types of neurostimulators, such as:

-   DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) - Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and certain cases ofepilepsy.

-   VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulation) - drug-resistant epilepsy and sometimes severe depression.

-   SCS (Spinal Cord Stimulation) - chronic neuropathic pain.

-   Sacral nerve stimulation - urinary and bowel function disorders.

The largest centers are:

-   Karolinska University Hospital - DBS, VNS, and advanced functional neurosurgery.

-   Sahlgrenska University Hospital - DBS, VNS, SCS.

-   Skane University Hospital - DBS, VNS, and neurosurgery.

-   Uppsala University Hospital - DBS and other neuromodulation.

-   Norrland University Hospital - one of Sweden's most extensive DBS programs and broad research inthe field. ([regionvasterbotten.se](https://www.regionvasterbotten.se/forskning/profilomraden/stereota ktisk-funktionell-neurokirurgi/deep-brain-stimulation-dbs?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) - Linkoping University Hospital - DBS and other advanced neurological treatment. - Orebro University Hospital - neurosurgery and neuromodulation.

### Common neurostimulator manufacturers in Sweden The implants used mainly come from:

-   Medtronic

-   Abbott

-   Boston Scientific

-   LivaNova (primarily VNS)

These systems use the manufacturers' own programmers and wireless telemetry solutions. Historically, several implants have communicated over the MICS/MedRadio band (402-405 MHz) or nearby MedRadio frequencies, while newer systems may also use other wireless technologies depending on the model. ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11103217/ ?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

If you are interested in Microchip ZL70103/ZL70323, I can also make a summary of which commercial neurostimulators are believed to use MICS/MedRadio-compatible telemetry and how their radio systems are built.

Question:

Which were used in the year 2000?

Answer:

If we look at around the year 2000 in Sweden, neurostimulators were much less common than today and were mainly used at university hospitals.

The most important types were:

1. DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) for:

-   Parkinson's disease

-   essential tremor

-   certain cases of dystonia. DBS gained major momentum around the turn of the millennium. ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3785222/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

2. VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulation) for:

- difficult-to-treat epilepsy.

VNS had been introduced in the late 1990s and began to be used at Swedish epilepsy centers around the year 2000.

([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve_stimulation?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

3. SCS (Spinal Cord Stimulation) for:

-   chronic neuropathic pain,- certain circulatory disorders.

The technology had existed for a long time but was used at a limited number of pain clinics. ([neurom odulation.com](https://www.neuromodulation.com/brief-history-neuromodulation?utm_source=chatgpt .com))

### Hospitals that were leading around the year 2000

The most active centers included:

-   Karolinska University Hospital

-   Sahlgrenska University Hospital

-   Uppsala University Hospital

-   Skane University Hospital (then Lund University Hospital)

-   Linkoping University Hospital

### Which companies were used?

The most common manufacturers around the year 2000 were:

-   Medtronic - dominant in DBS.

-   Advanced Neuromodulation Systems (ANS) - spinal cord stimulation (later acquired by Abbott).

-   Cyberonics - VNS (now part of LivaNova).

-   Advanced Bionics - certain neurostimulator systems.

### Did they use the MICS band?

In the year 2000, MICS (402-405 MHz) was just beginning to be established internationally. The earliest implants were often programmed using inductive telemetry (125-175 kHz) or manufacturer-specific radio systems. The broader use of MICS/MedRadio in commercial implants took off a few years later, in the mid-2000s. ([researchgate.net](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23153153_Deep_Brain_S timulation_Devices_A_Brief_Technical_History_and_Review?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

If your goal is to map which Swedish neurostimulators actually used MICS between 2000 and 2010, I can compile a year-by-year timeline with models, manufacturers, and which radio technology they used.

Question:

Which ones were manufactured before 2001? Yes, make a timeline list.

Answer:

Here is a timeline of the most important implantable neurostimulators and manufacturers before 2001. I have focused on systems that were actually used clinically or were commercially available.

| Year | Manufacturer | System | Type |

|-----|-------------|---------|-----|

| 1967 | Medtronic (early systems) | Early spinal cord stimulators | SCS (Spinal Cord Stimulation) ([neur omodulation.com](https://www.neuromodulation.com/brief-history-neuromodulation?utm_source=chat gpt.com)) |

| 1970s | Medtronic | Itrel series (early models) | SCS

([mrisafety.com](https://www.mrisafety.com/TMDL_list.php?goto=139&utm_source=chatgpt.com)) | | 1983-1984 | Medtronic | Itrel II | SCS, commercial implantable pulse generator ([neuromodec.org](htt ps://neuromodec.org/what-is-spinal-cord-stimulation/scs-devices.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) | | 1987 | Medtronic | First modern DBS systems developed | DBS ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.n cbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3785222/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) |

| 1989 | Medtronic | Itrel 3 | SCS/PNS

([mrisafety.com](https://www.mrisafety.com/TMDL_list.php?goto=139&utm_source=chatgpt.com)) |

| 1993 | Medtronic | Itrel II/III also used for DBS | DBS ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.

gov/articles/PMC3785222/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) |

| 1997 | Cyberonics (now part of LivaNova) | VNS Therapy System | VNS for epilepsy

([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve_stimulation?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) | | 1998 | Medtronic | Soletra Model 7426 | DBS for Parkinson's disease ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://p mc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3785222/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) |

| 1998 | Medtronic | Itrel 3 | DBS/SCS

([mrisafety.com](https://www.mrisafety.com/TMDL_list.php?goto=139&utm_source=chatgpt.com)) | | 1999 | Medtronic | Kinetra (development phase) | DBS with two channels

([mrisafety.com](https://www.mrisafety.com/TMDL_list.php?goto=139&utm_source=chatgpt.com)) |

| 2000 | Medtronic | Soletra and Itrel series | DBS/SCS, very common internationally ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih .gov](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3785222/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) |

### Most common manufacturers before 2001

1. Medtronic

-   The clearly dominant manufacturer.

-   DBS, SCS, and peripheral nerve stimulation.- Models: Itrel II, Itrel III, Soletra.

2. Cyberonics (now part of LivaNova) - Vagus nerve stimulators (VNS).

- Introduced clinically in the late 1990s.

3. Advanced Neuromodulation Systems - Early SCS systems for chronic pain.

-   The company was later acquired by Abbott.

### Communication

Before 2001, these implants did not use the MICS band (402-405 MHz). Most were programmed via:

-   inductive telemetry (magnetic coupling),

-   low-frequency radio systems,

-   manufacturer-specific telemetry solutions.

MICS/MedRadio began to see clinical adoption only in the first years of the 2000s, when battery technology and radio circuits became more energy efficient. ([pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pmc.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3785222/?utm_source=chatgpt.com))

If your goal is to trace USID, MICS, or Microchip/Zarlink technology, I can also make a separate timeline for 2001-2015 showing when MICS began to be introduced in commercial implants and which models used the technology.

Question:

Thank you, this helped a lot.

Answer:

You're welcome, Richard! I'm glad it was helpful.

You have asked several questions that together build a fairly complete picture of the development from older implants to modern MICS/MedRadio systems. If you continue with your USID/MICS project, I think a historical overview could be valuable.

I could compile a more detailed report with, for example:

-   1960-1980: The first neurostimulators and pacemakers.- 1980-1990: The first commercial SCS and DBS systems.

-   1990-2000: Soletra, Itrel, VNS, and how the telemetry worked.

-   2001-2005: The introduction of MICS (402-405 MHz) in medical implants.

-   2005-2010: The first MICS transceivers from what was then Zarlink (later Microchip Technology). - 2010-2026: The development toward today's MedRadio systems, including examples of chips such as ZL70103 and ZL70323.

I can also make a table with:

-   implant model,

-   manufacturer,

-   communication method (inductive, MICS/MedRadio, BLE, etc.),

-   frequency,

-   approximate year of introduction,

-   which hospitals or clinic types typically used the systems.

That would provide a fairly complete history of implant communication from the 1960s to today. I think it would fit well as background material for your report on USID and MICS.

Question:

Make a perfect PDF copy of everything in the 'hospitals using MICS' file.

Answer:

I can do that, but I need the actual file "hospitals using MICS" to work from.

Right now I only have the text from our conversation, not a file with that name.

Upload the file (Word, PDF, or text), and I will make a perfect PDF copy where I:

-   preserve all text,

-   keep headings and structure,

-   use a professional page format,

-   make sure Swedish characters (a, a, o/å, ä, ö) display correctly,- do not change the content.

Once you upload the file, I will send back the finished PDF version.

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