Boston Scientific’s recently issued a recall for its Infinion CX leads, which are part of their spinal cord stimulator system, after more than 1,000 injuries have been reported. The injuries were caused by the lead body experiencing mechanical stress, which led to patients experiencing high impedance, inadequate stimulation, or even total loss of stimulation. These incidents are likely to impact Boston Scientific’s position in the spinal cord stimulator (SCS) market, says GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

According to the GlobalData Medical Devices Intelligence Center, the SCS market was worth $2.5 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $4.8 billion in 2035, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. Boston Scientific occupies approximately 24% of the SCS market, holding the second largest position. Medtronic leads with 27%, while Globus Medical ranks third with 23%.

Aidan Robertson, Medical Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Infinion CX leads are used to manage chronic pain, and malfunctions in these components may harm patients until the device can be fixed. The faulty products may require reprogramming of the device or potentially a replacement of the implant prolonging the user’s recovery period. While the issues are actively being addressed, it would not be surprising for the market to be hesitant to keep procuring Infinion CX given the current situation.”

Boston Scientific stated that the removal of unused Infinion CX leads is part of a planned transition to the next generation leads. However, demand for these new leads may continue to be impacted by recent events.

Robertson continues: “During this period of uncertainty for Boston Scientific, competitors may look to grow their presence in SCS. The overall neuromodulation device market, of which spinal cord stimulators make up the largest portion, is expected to continue growing significantly due to an aging population that is creating a large geriatric customer base, as well as the increasing prevalence of chronic pain.”

Robertson concludes: “Boston Scientific is expected to struggle to maintain the same growth as its competitors in the short term in the wake of the recall. As demand for reliable spinal cord stimulators rises, competitors will aim to continually enhance current technological capabilities, and occurrences such as these can inhibit growth in this space. While Boston Scientific is likely to remain as a major player in the market for the foreseeable future, the recall presents an opportunity for their competitors to capitalize on.”