Dear Trying, not brave, just desperate! Tried very hard to understand & appreciate the options available to me. The new device is not by Medtronic. It's by Boston Scientific & is already in use in Europe & U.K., but trying for FDA approval here in U.S. It may have some advantages over Medtronic: longer battery life, more programming options, etc. BTW, the screws for the halo didn't bother me at all. The drilling in my skull in two places in order to place the leads: that was bad, very loud & traumatic to me!