Northwell’s Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, New York, has become the first hospital in Westchester County to offer the FDA-approved Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System, a revolutionary therapy for stroke rehabilitation. This innovative treatment provides new hope for chronic ischemic stroke survivors to regain upper limb function and improve quality of life.
Vivistim is an implantable device, similar to a pacemaker, that is placed in the upper chest and neck to deliver gentle electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve during targeted rehabilitation exercises. This unique “paired” approach is designed to help stroke survivors who have plateaued in traditional therapy relearn and improve motor skills in their affected arm and hand. The Vivistim System has been shown in clinical trials to achieve two to three times greater functional improvement than traditional rehabilitation therapy alone.
“We are incredibly proud to be the first in Westchester to offer the Vivistim Paired VNS System,” said Christian Ferreira, M.D., cerebrovascular neurosurgeon at Phelps Hospital. “For patients who have struggled with persistent arm and hand weakness years after their stroke, this therapy offers renewed hope. It leverages the brain’s natural ability to relearn — known as neuroplasticity — providing an opportunity for significant functional improvement that can profoundly impact their daily lives and independence.”
This novel therapy combines rehabilitation with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), a treatment that administers electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, one of the longest nerves in the body. Patients engage in activities ranging from simple tasks like brushing their teeth, writing or getting dressed to more complex daily routines such as preparing meals or playing games. The Vivistim device is activated during these exercises, helping strengthen the neural pathways responsible for movement and essential for regaining lost function
Candidates for Vivistim are chronic ischemic stroke survivors, at least six months post-stroke, with moderate to severe upper limb deficits and have plateaued in their recovery.
“Bringing this advanced neuro-rehabilitation technology to Westchester underscores Phelps Hospital’s unwavering commitment to delivering cutting-edge care and improving patient outcomes right here in our community,” said David Gordon, M.D., chair of neurosurgery for Northwell in Westchester. “The introduction of Vivistim at Phelps provides local access to this life-changing therapy for stroke survivors throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley, eliminating the need to travel outside the region for this specialized treatment.”
The addition of Vivistim builds on Northwell’s continued investment in neurological care across the region, bringing the most advanced treatments closer to the communities it serves. Over the past year, the health system expanded its neurosurgical practice with a new dedicated location at Phelps Hospital and launched a $1.96 million comprehensive neurology practice in nearby Chappaqua Crossing.
Phelps provides the full spectrum of ischemic stroke care, from IV thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy to emergent neurosurgical procedures. The hospital has been designated a thrombectomy-capable stroke center by the Joint Commission, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA). The AHA and ASA have also recognized Phelps with the Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Performance Achievement Award, as well as the Target: Stroke Honor Roll – Elite and Target: Stroke Honor Roll for advanced therapies.
