Medtronic Named 2026 TAG Awards Top Innovator for Symplicity Spyral™ Renal Denervation System
Addressing Uncontrolled Hypertension
High blood pressure is one of those health problems that can be easy to underestimate.
It is common. It can be managed. And for many people, it can also remain stubbornly difficult to control.
For more than 15 years, Medtronic has pursued a different approach to one of the most persistent challenges in cardiovascular care.
The result is the Symplicity Spyral™ Renal Denervation System, earning Medtronic the title of 2026 TAG Awards for B2B Innovation TOP INNOVATOR.
An "Always-On" Catheter-Based Solution
Symplicity Spyral is a minimally invasive catheter-based treatment designed to complement medication and lifestyle changes for people with uncontrolled hypertension.
The procedure targets nerves around the renal arteries using precisely controlled radiofrequency energy. The goal is to reduce the activity of nerves that can contribute to high blood pressure.
The idea behind the technology is particularly interesting because it addresses one of the challenges of traditional hypertension treatment: adherence.
Medications can work, but they require patients to take them consistently. Symplicity Spyral is designed to provide an "always-on" therapeutic effect following a single minimally invasive procedure.
The catheter itself was engineered with usability in mind. Its multi-electrode design delivers radiofrequency energy without occluding the renal artery, allowing blood flow to continue during the procedure. It is designed to accommodate vessel sizes ranging from 3 mm to 8 mm, with approximately 97% of patients in clinical trials able to meet the anatomical criteria.
But the technology did not arrive overnight.
Medtronic's RDN program grew out of research that began more than 15 years ago. The company brought together teams from across its organization, developed research capabilities, acquired the startup that had inspired the original work, and ultimately combined technologies and research into the Symplicity Spyral system.
Clinical Evidence and Medicare Coverage
That long development cycle matters because the technology is backed by a substantial clinical evidence base.
More than 30,000 patients have been treated globally, according to the nomination. Clinical trials have demonstrated mean reductions of more than 9 mmHg in office systolic blood pressure, while real-world data have shown a sustained mean reduction of 18 mmHg at three years in more than 1,500 patients. The reported major adverse event rate at the composite endpoint was less than 0.4%.
Then came an important development for access.
In October 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized a National Coverage Determination establishing Medicare coverage for the Symplicity Spyral system for eligible patients with uncontrolled hypertension. The nomination identifies this as the first time a minimally invasive hypertension procedure received national Medicare coverage.
For a technology that has spent more than a decade moving through research, development, clinical trials, regulatory work, and adoption, that represents a significant point in its journey.
The TAG Awards judges recognized both the scale of the problem and the depth of work behind the solution.
Anthony Lopez described Symplicity Spyral as an impressive combination of medical innovation, thoughtful engineering, and long-term execution. He specifically highlighted the system's potential to provide an "always-on" therapeutic benefit without relying entirely on daily medication adherence, as well as its clinical evidence, safety profile, patient adoption, and Medicare coverage.
Judge Tim Parrish highlighted the engineering behind the catheter, the clinical results, and the number of patients already treated.
Judge Clay Schwabe summed up the broader significance:
“Blood pressure management is so crucial for life extension and improvement. This is an exciting addition to the MDT portfolio.”
Innovation is often described as the moment something new is invented.
Symplicity Spyral tells a longer story.
It is the result of years of research, engineering, clinical testing, regulatory work, and implementation aimed at giving physicians another tool for a problem that affects millions of people.
That kind of persistence matters.