New Implantable Technology Stimulates Spinal Cord for Pain Relief

PainRelief.com Interview with:
Christopher M Proctor, PhD
Group Leader, Bionic Systems Group
BBSRC David Phillips Fellow
Electrical Engineering Division University of Cambridge
United Kingdom

Dr. Proctor

PainRelief.com:  What is the background for this study?  What types of pain might be amenable to treatment with this device?

Response: Spinal cord stimulation has been shown to be effective for patients with severe neuropathic pain. However, the most effective devices that are clinically available today require a rather invasive surgical procedure. Our innovation aims to reduce the surgical burden while providing the best possible treatment.


PainRelief.com: Would you describe the technology?

Spinal Implant – Unrolling

Response: Our minimally invasive spinal cord stimulator is an ultra thin implant that can be inserted into the epidural space within the spinal column through a needle. Once in place, the device can be expanded in a controlled way to cover a large area along the spinal cord.  Covering a large area allows for more precise targeting of the nerves that cause you to feel pain.

PainRelief.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: We believe that this technology could vastly expand the use of spinal cord stimulation for patients with chronic pain conditions.  We are currently fundraising to conduct further pre-clinical testing with an aim to be ready for clinical testing within 3 years.

Any disclosures? The main authors of this study are co-inventors on a related patent application.

Citation:

Electronics with shape actuation for minimally invasive spinal cord stimulation

BY BEN J. WOODINGTON, VINCENZO F. CURTO, YI-LIN YU, HÉCTOR MARTÍNEZ-DOMÍNGUEZ, LAWRENCE COLES, GEORGE G. MALLIARAS, CHRISTOPHER M. PROCTOR, DAMIANO G. BARONE

SCIENCE ADVANCES 25 JUN 2021 : EABG7833

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Last Updated on June 30, 2021 by PainRelief.com