Neurotechnology companies provide innovative tools to improve quality of life for people with chronic medical conditions.
By Jennifer French
Technology. It helps us connect with the world, navigate around it and gather information from all over. We have integrated technology into our lives. Some of us are married to our iPods or can’t image life without a cell phone. But what about technology that would help us regain function that we have lost, ease chronic pain without prescription drugs that make you loopy or help solve that pesky bladder management issue?
What Is Neurotechnology?
Electronic applications that interact with the human nervous system are called neurotechnology. Targeted toward those with neurological diseases and disorders, these technologies may improve function of a paralyzed limb, boost the rehabilitation process or block chronic pain. Leaders in this industry, including business enterprise, investors, scientists, clinicians and consumer advocates, recently convened in Southern California for the annual Neurotech Leaders Forum. This forum revealed some of the latest technology working its way down the pipeline of development and into the marketplace; that is estimated to realize annual compound growth of 20-22%.
These neurotechnologies are not attempting to “cure” a condition. Instead they are tools that can be used to combat secondary conditions, provide further independence or to aid in the rehabilitation process.
There are three applications of of neurotechnology systems: implanted, external and hybrid. Implanted systems typically require a surgical procedure and the entire system is implanted into the body. On the other hand, external systems are applied outside the human body or on the surface of the skin. A hybrid system has components of both; an implanted component and an external component.
It is key to note that implanted devices have come a long way in development. With heart pacemakers as a common technology, materials have become safer and survived long lives in the human body.
Neuorotechnologies may not be appropriate for all people. Individuals interested in treatments, devices or therapies should consider the time commitment and financial requirements. It is best to be evaluated and supervised by a trained clinician.
With this in mind, here is a peek at some of the technologies highlighted at the recent Leaders Forum:
Bladder Management
The number one issue for those with spinal cord injury (not to mention those who are aging) is bladder function. With four basic stimulation systems for bladder management— tibial nerve, bladder muscle, sacral nerve and pelvic floor stimulation— there are several options on the market for consumers.
Medtronic offers its Interstim® device specifically for managing urge incontinence, and they are now investigating the same device for fecal incontinence. With many competitors in the pelvic stimulation market, yet another device is working its way to a urologist near you. Athena, based in California, offers a pelvic floor stimulation device targeted toward the incontinence market alongside Empi, Utah Medical Products, Hollister and Neotonus.
One new system being tested that recently began clinical trials is pudendal nerve stimulation. This is a fully implanted neuromodulation device to manage voiding of the bladder. It is still in early clinical trials so the jury is still out as to how effective it will be.
Functioning of Paralyzed Limbs
Over the past several years, two drop-foot stimulation companies, Bioness and Innovative Neurotronics, have been battling over the US marketplace with one more, Odstock, seeking to enter the ring. One boost for these companies is the approval for reimbursement from Medicare for drop-foot syndrome due to spinal cord injury.
Across the pond in Europe, four drop-foot stimulation companies are competing, and a new entrant, Neurostep, a fully implanted drop- foot stimulation system, recently gained CE Mark approval. Offered thru Neurostream Technologies, a joint venture between Victhom Human Bionics and Otto Bock, this new device will be walking its way around Europe with expectation to set foot in North America in 2010.
Managing Chronic Pain
Spinal cord stimulation neuromodulation systems are battling it out among the Big Three: Medtronic, St. Jude Medical Neuromodulation and Boston Scientific. Each is starting to take the direct marketing route and providing some valuable resources to the consumer population for learning about the device and meeting people who have them. Surface stimulation systems, such as TENS units, are still around but new advancements are few and far between. However, there is a new percutaneous neuromodulation pain therapy gaining ground offered through Biowave. This is a deep tissue surface stimulation device used to reduce pain and accelerate rehabilitation. It is being used by NFL and MLB teams to treat players.
Sleep Apnea
Given an alternative to the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine for sleep apnea, neurotechnology companies are stepping up to the plate. Instead of large, loud and clunky machines, electrical stimulation is used to clear the airways for the snoozing user. Currently there are two implanted device approaches currently in development. Apnex Medical is investigating the hypoglossal neurostimulation therapy to use stimulation to clear the user’s airway while sleeping. A new entrant to the sleep apnea market is the Imthera, a California based start-up company. Their approach is using a single implanted electrode, the aura6000, to stimulate the tongue and open the airways. This targeted hypoglossal neurostimulation (THN) sleep therapy is scheduled to begin US clinical trials in 2010.
Brain Computer Interface
The BrainGate2 pilot human clinical trial began this past June at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The new clinical trial is part of a larger BrainGate research effort, the ultimate goal of which is to help people with spinal cord injury, stroke, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), limb loss, or other injuries or illnesses to restore their mobility, communication, and independence.
BrainGate is an investigational technology being developed to detect brain signals and to allow people with paralysis to use those signals to control assistive devices. The system is based on based on neuroscience, engineering and computer science research conducted by a multidisciplinary research team at MGH, Brown University, Providence VA Medical Center, and other institutions. Dr. John Donoghue, director of the Brown Institute for Brain Science and Dr. Leigh Hochberg, associate professor of engineering at Brown and a vascular and critical care neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, are leading the research.
Resources
To learn more about these technologies and more, visitwww.NeurotechNetwork.org. You may search the central database of neurotechnology.
Disclaimer:Technologies mentioned here and on our website are not one size fits all. It may or may not be proper for your condition. It is best to contact a trained medical professional and ask for an evaluation.
If you would like to full overview of neurotechnologies, come see our workshops at the next Independence Expo or the Abilities Expos near you.
Neurotech Resources
Bladder Management
Neurotech Network – Uninary Control Fact Sheet:www.NeurotechNetwork.org
Medtronic Interstim® –www.interstim.com
Utah Medical Products – Liberty ® -www.utahmed.com/liberty.htm
Empi – Minnova® -www.empi.com
Neotonus – NeoControl ® –www.neocontrol.com
Hollister – evadri –www.rediscoverbladdercontrol.com
Drop-Foot Stimulation
Bioness L300 –www.bioness.com
Innovative Neurotronics –www.walkaide.com
Odstock Medical –www.odstockmedical.com
Neurostep ® -www.victhom.com
Pain Management
Boston Scientific –www.controlyourpain.com
St. Jude Medical –www.poweroveryourpain.com
Medtronic –www.tamethepain.com
Biowave –www.biowave.com
Sleep Apnea
Apnex Medical –www.apnexmedical.com
Imthera – aura6000www.imtheramedical.com/
BrainGate –www.braingate2.org
Jennifer French has a C6-7 SCI and is a user of the implanted stand and transfer system developed by the Cleveland FES Center. She is the co-founder of Neurotech Network, a nonprofit organization focusing on education and information dissemination about neurotechnology for persons with impairments.