For many stroke survivors, recovery follows a familiar path: months of hard work in rehabilitation, meaningful progress and then a plateau. Once traditional therapies are exhausted, patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke are often told there are no options left to improve the use of an affected arm or hand.
HonorHealth is helping to change that.
On June 11, 2026, the stroke program at HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center reached an important milestone by completing our first implantation of the Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System. Performed by HonorHealth neurosurgeons Neil Majmundar, MD, and Andrew Yang, MD, the procedure expands access to an innovative therapy that can help stroke survivors continue their recovery journey and regain greater independence in everyday life.
Following implantation surgery, the device delivers gentle stimulation to the vagus nerve during occupational therapy sessions while patients practice repeated movements such as reaching and grasping. Together, stimulation and therapy help the brain strengthen the pathways involved in movement. Patients continue therapy at home by activating the device during prescribed exercises.
Who may benefit from this therapy? Candidates are typically those who have suffered an ischemic stroke, completed rehabilitation, reached a recovery plateau and still have some ability to move the affected arm and hand. Most patients participate in 90-minute therapy sessions three times a week for at least six weeks, followed by a daily home exercise program.
The addition of this therapy expands HonorHealth's advanced stroke recovery services, offering new hope for people working to regain function and independence long after they thought recovery had reached its limit.
