This technology is an ultrasound-based vascular neural interface (VNI) that allows for stimulation of both the central and peripheral nervous system, notably the vagus nerve, for treatment of neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions.
Current methods for brain stimulation usually involve invasive surgery to implant electrodes. Intravascular neural interfaces exist and are less invasive, however, these approaches still use wired devices. These can degrade over time, and pose other risks including wire breakage, thrombosis and endothelialization along the length of the wire. There are currently no non-invasive wireless methods for stimulation of the central and peripheral stimulation.
This technology is a vascular neural interface that uses a wireless ultrasound-based method to stimulate both the central and peripheral nervous system, notably the vagus nerve. The device consists of flexible microfabricated electrode arrays made with integrated circuit design that can be delivered in a non-invasive way. Multiple devices can be implanted in the same person allowing interfaces across different brain regions.
The technology has been tested in vitro using silicone mock vessels, and in vivo in rabbit carotid arteries.
IR CU21309
Licensing Contact: Greg Maskel