In neuromodulation, there are no IS (industry standard) leads and headers. All manufactures have proprietary leads and headers. So, you can't use Medtronic Leads on BSC or ST. Jude cans and vice versa. Additionally, there are no prophylactic indications for a spinal cord stimulator implant; each patient is implanted with a temporary system which is "trialed" for about a week. When the patient comes back at the end of the trial the leads are removed and the patient is asked if at least 50% of the pain was alleviated. At this point, if the patient liked the sensation of the stimulator, he or she will be scheduled for a permanent implant.
On average, about 60-70% of all trials go to permanent implant. There are a variety of reasons that 30-40% of all trials fail, we won't get into them here. The company that conducted the trial, gets the permanent implant about 99% of the time. BSC developed an adapter, called OMG, that can adapt St. Jude and Medtronic trial leads to their temporary stimulator. They ask doctors for the opportunity to speak with patients whom have failed trials with other companies. The rep will then connect their OMG and try to convince the patient that BSC's stimulation is better than the others. It is the idea of "stealing" trial patients combined with the idea that trying to "convince" patients that BSC's therapy is better that has made most people question the practice of using OMG.
Hope this helps.