Which company developed the urinary incontinence device reportedly linked to Elon Musk?
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Executive summary
Reported links between Elon Musk and a urinary‑incontinence device in news and social posts point to neuromodulation implants developed by established medtech firms—primarily Neuspera and Medtronic—rather than Neuralink. Neuspera’s integrated sacral neuromodulation (iSNM) system received FDA approval in June 2025 [1] and Medtronic’s Altaviva implantable tibial neuromodulator received FDA approval in September 2025 [2] [3].
1. What the record shows: two mainstream medtech developers
Regulatory and company filings identify Neuspera Medical as the maker of an integrated sacral neuromodulation system for urinary urge incontinence that the company says was approved by the FDA in June 2025 [1], and Medtronic as the maker of the Altaviva implantable tibial neuromodulation device, which the company announced received FDA clearance on Sept. 19, 2025 [2] [3]. Trade and medical outlets report both approvals and product claims in detail [4] [5] [6].
2. Why people might associate the device with Elon Musk
Public confusion likely arises because Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain‑computer interface company, is a high‑profile implantable‑device developer discussed widely in 2025 [7] [8]. Neuralink’s public updates and trial pages emphasize human implants and safety processes [9] [10] [11], which can blur distinctions between neurotech aimed at the brain and other implantable neuromodulation products aimed at peripheral nerves. Available sources do not mention a Neuralink product for urinary incontinence or any assertion that Neuralink built a urinary‑incontinence implant (not found in current reporting).
3. How Neuspera’s and Medtronic’s devices differ from Neuralink’s work
Neuspera and Medtronic market peripheral neuromodulation systems designed to modulate sacral or tibial nerves to treat urinary urge incontinence; Neuspera’s iSNM is a sacral implant powered by an external battery [1] [12], and Medtronic’s Altaviva is an implant near the ankle that provides tibial nerve stimulation and was cleared as an implantable tibial neuromodulator [3] [5]. Neuralink’s public materials and reporting focus on brain‑computer interfaces and intracranial electrodes for restoring motor function and other central nervous system applications [7] [8] [11]. None of the provided sources link Neuralink to peripheral neuromodulation devices for incontinence (not found in current reporting).
4. What the FDA approvals tell us — and what they don’t
Press releases and reporting make regulatory status explicit: Neuspera’s site states FDA approval in June 2025 for its iSNM system [1], and multiple outlets report Medtronic’s September 2025 FDA clearance for Altaviva [2] [3] [5]. These approvals indicate clinical trial data and regulatory review specific to those companies’ products, not to any device from Neuralink [4] [12]. Available sources do not mention any FDA filings tying Neuralink to urinary incontinence therapies (not found in current reporting).
5. Competing narratives and possible motives behind misattribution
Two dynamics explain misattribution: first, high public awareness of Elon Musk and Neuralink’s implant headlines creates a heuristic that any implantable device might be linked to him [7] [8]. Second, commercial PR from Neuspera and Medtronic is explicit and visible—company press releases and trade coverage tout approvals and clinical results [1] [3] [12]—which could be reshared with poor sourcing and lead to conflation. Assess these sources directly rather than relying on reposts of social claims; the primary company reports identify Neuspera and Medtronic by name [1] [3].
6. How to verify future claims quickly
Check FDA announcements and the device maker’s press release or regulatory notice: Neuspera lists its iSNM approval on its corporate pages [1] [12], Medtronic published a PR announcing Altaviva’s FDA approval [3], and outlets like Urology Times and MedTech Dive covered the Medtronic clearance [4] [6]. For links to individual figures such as Musk, demand primary evidence (filings, spokespeople, or company communications); the sources provided include company statements but contain no evidence connecting Musk or Neuralink to these incontinence devices (not found in current reporting).
Limitations: this analysis uses only the supplied documents. If there are private investments, informal collaborations, or later disclosures tying Musk to any incontinence device, those are not mentioned in the provided sources and therefore not addressed here (not found in current reporting).