Concept
6.9-10% of the world population is affected by chronic neuropathic pain. Drugs are often not effective and for the first time in history healthcare systems want to replace them.
Neuromodulation is the solution. However, presently available neuromodulation therapies still have partial effectiveness, partial patients’ satisfaction, and degrading long-term benefits. Neuromodulation device market is still not fully addressed: only 34’000 spinal cord implants per year.
Our patented implantable electrode is inserted inside the nerve, enabling the physiological activation of the nerve fibers that elicit natural and pleasant movement and touch sensations. Our sensory retrieval therapy is pleasant for patients and induces long-term pain reduction.
Product
Our patented implantable electrode is inserted transversally inside the nerve. This allows to deliver focused stimulation into the sensory nerves of patients, which bring information of touch and movement to the brain. The stimulation of these nerves elicits natural sensations from the extremities (arms and legs). Because of the selectivity of our electrode, we can elicit natural sensations precisely in the spot where the pain is perceived. By doing this, we eliminate neuropathic pain.
The technology behind SENSY
The product, SENSY, is constituted by an implantable stimulator (connected to our novel electrode for the peripheral nerves), a microcomputer placed outside the body which controls the stimulator itself and wearable sensors, which can be added to the extremity (or the prosthesis) of the user (if he/she has any) and whose readout is received by the microcomputer. The patient and the clinician can run an application on their smartphone/tablet to monitor/control SENSY.
SENSY has two modalities of functioning: 1) “pacemaker”: the patient activates a predetermined program of stimulation which has a fixed duration of 10 minutes; 2) “walking”: the patient that has added the wearable sensors to his/her extremity, activates a program in which the stimulation is changed according to the readout of the sensors themselves.
The patient activates one of these modalities through the app.
The clinician can calibrate SENSY to the need of the specific patient (i.e. change the parameters of stimulation, or the sensitivity of the sensors), and monitor how the therapy is working.
Featured in Nature Medicine and Science Translational Medicine
The first prototype of SENSY was tested by leg amputees wearing a commercial prosthesis. SENSY treated reduced phantom pain. As a side benefit, SENSY also improved the control of the prosthesis.
The results of the trial can be found here:
Current status
We are developing an industrial prototype of SENSY for use by patients suffering from neuropathic pain. The device is not yet approved for commercial use.