Marshfield Clinic offers therapy device for stroke patients
Nov. 5, 2026
Contact:
Jeff Starck
Marshfield Clinic
715-389-4978 / Jeffrey.Starck@sanfordhealth.org
MARSHFIELD, Wis. – Marshfield Clinic is now offering a breakthrough therapy for stroke survivors to help improve upper‑limb function through vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with rehabilitation.
Vivistim is the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration‑approved device that uses VNS during therapy to help stroke survivors significantly improve arm and hand function – even years after their stroke. Clinical studies show patients using Vivistim achieve two to three times greater improvement than rehabilitation alone.
Vivistim is intended for chronic ischemic stroke survivors who continue to experience moderate to severe upper‑limb impairment six months or more after their stroke. The therapy includes a small, implanted device, therapist‑led sessions using a wireless remote, and at‑home exercises activated by a handheld magnet to support continued recovery in daily tasks.
“Vivistim offers the potential for patients to regain aspects of their life taken by stroke – writing their name, opening up jars and picking up objects,” said Dr. Vivek Gonugunta, endovascular neurosurgeon and medical director of Marshfield Clinic’s stroke program. “Vivistim’s capabilities open new possibilities for personalized therapy, improved outcomes and more efficient care. We’re excited to bring this technology into our practice and confident it will make a meaningful difference for the patients and families we serve.”
The system works by delivering gentle, precisely timed vagus‑nerve stimulation during therapist‑guided rehabilitation, strengthening neural pathways that support motor recovery. During rehabilitation exercises and daily activities, Vivistim is activated to gently stimulate the brain via the vagus nerve — this is known as Paired VNS™ therapy. Paired VNS therapy provides a boost to the brain that helps strengthen and create new neural pathways.
Most users don’t feel the stimulation. What they see is a noticeable improvement in hand and arm function over time.
“This allows users to achieve the goals that matter to them — preparing their food, buttoning their shirt or playing cards,” said Dr. Frank Womble, director of Marshfield Clinic’s inpatient rehabilitation unit.”
Vivistim is performed at Marshfield Medical Center in Marshfield.
For more information, visit vivistim.com and contact 715-387-5297.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the healthcare experience and providing access to world-class healthcare in America’s heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 60,000 employees and serves more than 2.5 million patients and nearly 415,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 60 hospitals, 315 clinic locations, 145 senior care communities, 4,900 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1,100 active clinical trials and studies. The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to nearly 80 specialties. Nearly 450 residents and fellows are trained each year through over 40 graduate medical education programs, with Sanford Health serving as the primary funding source for 75% of the programs. Sanford Health also includes 92 retail pharmacies, including Sanford and Lewis Drug pharmacies with locations in 6 states, and more than 300 pharmacists. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural healthcare across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
###
