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Neurostimulation Patent Awarded to NeuroMEDx
Thursday, November 29, 2007
New patent covers atrial fibrillation, epilepsy, and blood pressure treatments.
St. Cloud, MN -- NeuroMEDx, an early stage medical device company focused on the treatment of neurologic disorders, has been granted another patent for its unique "neurostimulation" technology.
This is the third patent the company has received for its MED™(Mechanoelectric Device™) technology; implantable devices for the treatment of disorders such as Parkinson's, epilepsy, depression, obesity, migraine and atrial fibrillation.
The patented MechanoElectric Device (MED) technology will utilize the body's natural response to focal mechanical forces. When implanted, the miniature MED would exert mild pressures to anatomical targets, such as brain tissue and nerves, in order to stimulate therapeutic physiologic responses. These stimulated responses result in the disruption of errant brain signals that cause tremors in Parkinson's and seizures in epilepsy. In addition, the MED may stimulate the baroreflex properties of blood vessels in order to lower blood pressure, or block the signals in the heart that cause atrial fibrillation. Additionally, MED technology may prevent the transmission of signals that cause symptoms such as migraine headaches and major depression.
In the treatment of the obesity, it is anticipated that the MED technology may be used to modify the stomach's hunger signals that contribute to over-eating and binging.
Potentially an alternative to surgery and drug therapies, NeuroMEDx' technology may also provide a more cost effective and reliable alternative to electrical neurostimulation treatments (e.g. Deep Brain Stimulation) currently offered by a number of companies. These electrical devices, similar to implantable pacemakers and defibrillators, are manufactured by companies such as Medtronic, Boston Scientific, St. Jude, Northstar Neuroscience, Cyberonics, and EnteroMedics.
Still in pre-clinical evaluation, MED technology can be implanted alone using standard minimally invasive procedures, or can be combined with electrical neurostimulators, drugs, or stem cells for a complementary-therapy approach.
NeuroMEDx' broad patent portfolio also leverages the MED technology for the treatment of other disorders that include urinary incontinence and gastrointestinal disorders.
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