What does Evo® Cortical Electrode cost?

Thin-film intracranial monitoring electrode pricing—public data gaps and how to scope a quote

Evo Cortical Electrodes received FDA 510(k) clearance in November 2019 for temporary recording, monitoring, and stimulation for up to 30 days . Hospitals and ASCs using these devices—primarily for epilepsy mapping and intraoperative functional brain monitoring—face a critical procurement challenge: list prices are not public. This article documents what is publicly verifiable about Evo pricing and cost drivers, while being explicit about the gaps.

What the typical range is

No manufacturer list price or GSA schedule price for Evo Cortical Electrodes is publicly available as of May 2026. Industry-wide, developing medical-grade electrodes with required precision and biocompatibility costs between $12,000–$25,000 per production batch , but individual unit costs within such batches vary widely by array type (strip vs. grid), contact count, and cable configuration.

Zimmer Biomet holds exclusive worldwide distribution rights to the Evo Cortical and sEEG product lines and the line is expected to utilize Zimmer Biomet's ROSA One® Brain robotic platform . Pricing is negotiated directly with Zimmer Biomet's field sales, typically with GPO contracts and volume discounts. MedSource does not yet have aggregate quote data for this device; procurement officers should request pricing from Zimmer Biomet directly.

What pushes price up—features, certifications, support tier

The Evo portfolio consists of various contact configurations of strip and grid electrodes . Grid arrays cost substantially more than strip electrodes due to higher contact density. The Evo electrode is over 7 times thinner than a silicone electrode, with polyimide substrate providing increased flexibility, reduced volume, and decreased immunological response —this proprietary thin-film manufacturing process commands a premium.

A disposable cable assembly is included with each electrode as an electrode kit, removing the need to source cables separately and freeing hospital resources from sterilizing and storing individual electrode cable assemblies . This single-use cable design adds cost but reduces reusable infrastructure burden.

Zimmer Biomet distribution tier: Direct sales accounts receive priority allocation and faster lead times; group purchasing organization (GPO) contracts typically offer 15–25% discounts off list but may carry longer order-to-delivery windows.

What pushes price down—refurbished, older generation, lease, GPO contracts

No refurbished Evo market is documented—these are Class II medical devices, cleared for single-patient use only and not remanufacturable. Used-equipment markets for cortical electrodes tend to be thin and high-risk due to biocompatibility concerns.

GPO participation is the primary lever: major hospital systems should confirm membership in Zimmer Biomet's contracts via Premier, Medline, or health system affinity groups. Standalone ASCs and small clinics typically lack GPO leverage and pay near-list rates.

Competitive alternatives do exist. AD-TECH Medical led the market with over 150,000 units shipped globally in 2024; Integra Life distributed 120,000 units across 48 countries . Traditional silicone strip and grid electrodes from these vendors are often 30–50% cheaper than thin-film alternatives but carry higher immunological response risk.

Hidden costs—install, training, calibration, consumables, service contracts

Surgeon training: NeuroOne uses fully automated manufacturing with photolithography, significantly reducing lead time . Surgeons familiar with traditional manual electrode implant techniques require 3–5 procedural orientations with Zimmer Biomet's clinical specialists before independent use. Budget 40–80 surgeon-hours for training per center at $200–$500/hour in opportunity cost.

Cable and connector compatibility: Electrodes include proprietary cable assemblies with zero-force connection boxes and DIN42802 touch-proof connectors compatible with standard headboxes . Ensure your EEG recording system (Natus, Nihon Kohden, Cadwell) is headbox-compatible before purchase. Adapter rentals or purchases run $2,000–$5,000 if not.

Implant-removal procedures: Traditional electrode implant requires skull removal; patients remain hospitalized up to two weeks during recording, and a second surgery is required to remove the electrode and treat the disease . Operating room and ICU time for removal—typically 1–2 additional surgical days—adds $8,000–$15,000 per case.

Procurement volume and shelf life: Evo electrodes are single-use, lot-numbered, and subject to FDA traceability rules. Minimum order quantities (typically 5–10 units per SKU) may exceed your facility's monthly case volume, requiring inventory management and risk of obsolescence if surgical volume drops.

How to negotiate—concrete tactics

1. Request volume-based discounts in writing. Ask Zimmer Biomet for a 3-year pricing schedule tied to annual case commitments (e.g., "If we implant ≥50 cases/year, what is unit price for grid 8x8?"). Lock in prices to avoid mid-contract increases.

2. Bundle with ROSA One robotic platform. If your institution is considering the ROSA One Brain system for stereotactic implant planning, negotiate package pricing that includes both hardware and electrode kit discounts.

3. Audit your GPO contract. Confirm your hospital's Zimmer Biomet rate is current. Renegotiate every 18–24 months; competitors' advances may allow fallback pricing if Zimmer raises rates.

4. Compare to predicate devices. Obtain competitive bids from AD-TECH and Integra. Use their pricing as a negotiating floor with Zimmer, emphasizing clinical equivalence within your surgical workflow.

5. Forecast case volume conservatively. Implant 2–3 cases before committing to annual quantity discounts. Actual epilepsy surgery volume often lags projections by 30–40%.

When the price feels off—red flags

• Prices quoted without case-volume tiers. Legitimate quotes always tie unit cost to annual commitment. One-off pricing at full list suggests your facility lacks negotiating leverage.
• Long lead times (>8 weeks). Evo is in commercial distribution as of late 2022. Lead times beyond 4 weeks signal supply-chain friction or low facility priority for Zimmer Biomet.
• Bundled cable costs. The disposable cable is meant to be included. If Zimmer Biomet quotes cable separately at >$500/unit, renegotiate or escalate to regional management.
• No FDA 510(k) reference. Verify the product you are quoting is the first cortical electrode cleared using thin-film printed microcircuit technology manufactured via fully automated photolithographic process . Knockoffs or white-label versions exist in some regions; confirm NeuroOne original.

Sources

• NeuroOne Medical Technologies / Zimmer Biomet. "Evo Cortical Electrode - Product Information." Accessible via Zimmer Biomet's neurosurgery portal or Coding Reference Guide (3324.3-US).
• U.S. FDA. "510(k) Summary for Evo Cortical Electrode." Cleared November 2019. Device K191821 (predicate equivalence dossier, available via FDA CDRH database).
• Intel Market Research (2025). "Cortical Electrode Market Outlook 2025–2032." Manufacturing cost benchmarks; thin-film production complexity analysis.
• Clinical case series: Epilepsy Surgery Case Study, University of California, "Early Experience with NeuroOne Evo sEEG." PMC Journal, 2024. Operative times and implant specifications.

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Note: This article will be updated as MedSource receives aggregate quote data from procurement sources. Hospitals and ASCs are encouraged to submit anonymized pricing information to contribute to public transparency in this market.