A blog about what is new (and old) in the world of active implantable medical devices

Category Archives: Neural Stimulation

AIMDs for the stimulation of the nervous system

Biotectix

Posted on by Posted in Biotectix, Brain Stimulation, Cardiac Pacing, Electrode Materials, Electrodes, Tech Talk
Biotectix electrically conductive polymers for implantable devices
Image Credit: Biotectix

Biotectix of Ann Arbor, MI recently contacted me to let me know of new conductive polymer materials that they are developing to enhance the performance of next-gen implantable stimulation and sensing devices.

Indeed, their materials sound very promising.  According to Biotectix, their electrode coatings and device components are made from proprietary conducting polymers that provide intimate, long-term electrical and biological connections between implantable electrodes and the target tissue.  They offer the conductivity and stability of metals at a low-cost with the ease of processing and biological functionality of polymers. Continue reading→

NDI Medical’s Miniature MicroPulse Neurostimulator

Posted on by Posted in Incontinence, Medtronic, Muscular Stimulation, NDI Medical, Pain, Paralysis, Spinal Cord Stimulation, SPR Therapeutics, Wireless Power Transmission
NDI Medical MicroPulse rechargeable neurostimulator
Image Credit: SPR Therapeutics

NDI Medical was founded in 2002 by Geoffrey B. Thrope to develop and commercialize neurodevice products.  NDI Medical developed the MicroPulse neurostimulator, a thumb-sized, rechargeable pulse generator, that has been used for the treatment of incontinence and pain, as well as an implantable device for the restoration of function of paralyzed limbs.

According to a 2006 news release by the electronics assembly manufacturer for the MicroPulse:

“Using minimally-invasive surgery, the Micropulse is implanted into a patient, usually in the lower abdomen or buttock, where the device is most comfortable and least visible. After implantation, a clinician uses a wireless programmer to set the Micropulse’s stimulus parameter and timing patterns. The programmer, as well as the patient’s controller for the device, has a range of about three feet.

To recharge the device’s lithium-ion battery, the patient applies a recharging patch for several hours to the vicinity of the implant. The battery needs recharging from once a month to every few weeks.” Continue reading→

Leptos Biomedical’s Splanchnic Nerve Stimulation For Treatment Of Obesity (2002-2010)

Posted on by Posted in EnteroMedics, Gastric Stimulation, History, Leptos Biomedical, Neural Stimulation, Obesity

Leptos Biomedical, Inc. Splanchnic nerve stimulation for treatment of obesityLeptos Biomedical was founded in Fridley, MN in 2002 by Dr. John D. Dobak.   Leptos intended to develop an implantable device to stimulate the greater splanchnic nerve, that was hoped would  result in reduced food intake and increased energy expenditure.

In February 2010 Leptos announced its closure.  Reasons were not provided, but it has been suggested that the decision was prompted by the 2009 announcement by competitor EnteroMedics’ that it had failed to meet the primary goals of its pivotal study. EnteroMedics’ Maestro device didn’t perform any better than a sham device.  EnteroMedics is now conducting a new study with the device.

Click here for Leptos Biomedical’s patents.

 

Neuros Medical’s Implantable Device to Alleviate Amputation Pain

Posted on by Posted in Nerve Blocking, Neuros Medical, Pain
Neuros Medical Electrical Nerve Block implantable device to alleviate amputated limb pain
Image Credit: Neuros Medical

Neuros Medical was founded by Jon J. Snyder in Cleveland, OH in 2008 to develop a neurostimulation therapy to alleviate chronic pain.  The company’s Electrical Nerve Block™ technology is based on research done at Case Western Reserve University.

The company’s Nerve Block is an implantable device that delivers high-frequency stimulation to sensory nerves in the peripheral nervous system. Neuros’ aim is to stop a wide variety of chronic pain, including residual limb pain, chronic post surgical pain, and chronic migraine.

In November 2011 Neuros Medical announced that it has received IDE approval from the FDA to evaluate its technology for use in acute treatment of pain in the residual limb of amputees.

Company website: http://www.neurosmedical.com/

Click here for patents on Case Western University’s nerve blocking technology

 

 

Spinal Modulation’s Neurostimulator for the Stimulation of the Dorsal Root Ganglion

Posted on by Posted in Mir A Imran (InCube), Pain, Spinal Cord Stimulation, Spinal Modulation
Spinal modulation for stimulation of dorsal root ganglion
Image Credit: Spinal Modulation

 

Spinal Modulation was founded by Mir Imran in Menlo Park, CA in 2004.  The company has developed an implantable neurostimulator to deliver signals to the primary sensory neurons located within the dorsal root ganglion (DRG).  The idea is that unlike dorsal column spinal cord stimulation, the Spinal Modulation system breaks the pain signal’s path before it enters the spinal cord. Continue reading→

Nevro’s Senza Rechargeable Spinal Cord Stimulator for Back and Leg Pain

Posted on by Posted in Nevro, Pain, Spinal Cord Stimulation, Wireless Power Transmission
Nevro Senza Implantable Spinal Cord Stimulator for Back and Leg Pain
Image Source: Nevro’s Website

Nevro Corporation (formerly NBI Development) was founded in 2006 by Dr. Konstantinos Alataris.  The Menlo Park, CA company developed a pain management concept that originated at the Mayo Clinic into a spinal cord stimulation system for back and leg pain.

According to Nevro, their unique stimulation waveform achieves pain relief without paresthesia or uncomfortable stimulation.  Few details are available about the waveform, but Nevro’s Spanish distributor’s brochure specifies it as high-frequency stimulation at 10,000 Hz.  This is consistent with Nevro’s patent applications which teach that “high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient’s spinal cord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side affects.” Continue reading→

BioControl’s CardioFit System for the Treatment of Heart Failure via Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Posted on by Posted in BioControl, CerebralRx, Heart Failure (CHF), Hypertension, Muscular Stimulation, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Yossi Gross (Rainbow Medical)
Biocontrol's Cardiofit Vagus Nerve Stimulator for Heart Failure Treatment

BioControl Medical, Ltd. was founded in 1999 by Yossi Gross, and is based in Yehud, Israel.  BioControl’s first devices were developed to treat incontinence due to overactive bladder, stress, and interstitial cystitis.  In 2006 American Medical Sytems acquired an exclusive license for the use of the technology in urology, gynecology and other pelvic health applications. Continue reading→

CCC Medical – Top OEM to AIMD Start-Ups

Posted on by Posted in Bradycardia, CCC del Uruguay, CCC Medical, CCC Medical, History, Pain, Ultra-Low-Power ICs, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Wireless Power Transmission
CCC del Uruguay Teros SSI pacemaker model 503CCC is one of the oldest pacemaker manufacturers in the world. It was founded in 1969 by Dr. Orestes Fiandra, who performed the first succesful, human, long-term pacemaker implant in the world.

This was achieved in Uruguay on February 2, 1960 by Dr. Orestes Fiandra and Dr. Roberto Rubio. The pacemaker was manufactured by Dr. Rune Elmqvist of Elema-Schönander in Sweden, and was implanted in Uruguay in a 34-year-old patient with AV block. This unit worked successfully for nine and a half months, until the patient died of sepsis from an unrelated infection. Continue reading→

MicroTransponder’s Injectable Stimulators

Posted on by Posted in MicroTransponder, Pain, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Wireless Power Transmission

 

MicroTransponder's concept for injectable microstimulators

From US Patent Application Publication US 2009/0163889 A1

 

MicroTransponder was founded in Dallas, TX in  2007 when it licensed technology developed at University of Texas in Dallas (UTD) by Larry Cauller, who heads the cortical connections lab. The first wireless transponder was developed under a DARPA Revolutionizing Prosthetics grant to create a bi-directional neural interface for a prosthetic hand. Continue reading→

Northstar Neuroscience’s Renova Cortical Stimulation System (1999-2009)

Posted on by Posted in Brain Stimulation, Museum, Northstar Neuroscience (1999-2009), Stroke

Northstar's Renova Implantable Stimulator for the Treatment of Stroke

Northstar was founded in 1999 as Vertis Neuroscience headquartered in Seattle, WA, and the original goal was to develop electrical stimulation for chronic back pain.  In 2003, under its new name, Northstar Neuroscience, then developed the Renova cortical stimulation system to deliver targeted electrical stimulation to the brain cortex as a treatment for stroke-related upper extremity. Continue reading→

EnteroMedics’ Maestro RC Vagus Nerve Stimulator for Obesity Management

Posted on by Posted in EnteroMedics, Gastric Stimulation, Obesity, Vagus Nerve Stimulation

EnteroMedics Inc. was founded in St. Paul, MN in 2002 to develop a platform for vagus-nerve stimulation, primarily for obesity management.  In March 2011 EnteroMedics received the CE Mark for its second-generation system – the Maestro RC.

The EnteroMedics Maestro RC device delivers VBLOC® vagal blocking therapy to through laparoscopically implanted leads to intermittently block the vagus nerves using high-frequency, low-energy electrical impulses. VBLOC Therapy is intended to target the multiple digestive functions under control of the vagus nerves and to affect the perception of hunger and fullness. Continue reading→

CerebralRx FitNeS Vagus Nerve Stimulator for Epilepsy Treatment

Posted on by Posted in BioControl, CerebralRx, Epilepsy, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Yossi Gross (Rainbow Medical)
CerebralRx FitNeS vagus neurve stimulator for treatment of epilepsy

Image Credit: Biocontrol

In June 2011, Israeli neuromodulation systems developer BioControl Medical spun-off CerebralRx to market its FitNeS vagus nerve stimulation system for the treatment of refractory epilepsy.

The FitNes system employs platform technology developed for the CardioFit® system for treating congestive heart failure (HF). CerebralRx spun out of BioControl Medical to expand the use of this technology outside of cardiology for the treatment of a range of neurological disorders, including epilepsy.

Continue reading→

Cyberonics’ Vagus Nerve Stimulators

Posted on by Posted in Cyberonics, Epilepsy, Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Image credit: Cyberonics

Cyberonics was founded in Houston, TX in 1987 to develop an implantable device for the treatment of epilepsy.  In July 1997, The FDA approved the VNS Therapy System (formerly known as the NCP® NeuroCybernetic Prosthesis System) as an adjunctive epilepsy treatment for adults and children over 12 years of age with partial onset seizures refractory to drugs.

Cyberonics currently markets the VNS Pulse and VNS Demipulse IPGs, which offer approximately 6 years of longevity at nominal stimulation settings (2 mA, 20 Hz, 500 msec, 10% duty cycle into a 4 kOhm load).

Continue reading→

AIMD Companies Founded by Yossi Gross

Posted on by Posted in BetaStim, BioControl, Brainsgate, CerebralRx, Diabetes, Enopace Biomedical, Epilepsy, Heart Failure (CHF), Hypertension, Obesity, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, Yossi Gross (Rainbow Medical)

Yossi Gross (born February 5, 1947) is an Israeli medical device innovator and entrepreneur. His medical-device companies are incubated through Rainbow Medical.

Currently, the following companies led by Yossi Gross are focusing on active implantable medical devices:

  • BetaStim, developing a new neurostimulation treatment for diabetes
  • Brainsgate, developing an implantable device for acute stroke treatment and brain drug-delivery technology
  • BioControl Medical, developing neurostimulation devices
  • Enopace Biomedical, developing implantable devices for heart failure treatment through stimulation of the aorta
  • CerebralRx, a spin-off from Biocontrol developing vagus nerve stimulators for the treatment of epilepsy