Overview

Neuromodulation has tremendous future applications in medicine and electrodes can be placed in the epidural space in the brain and in the spine.  Currently, one challenge in deploying epidural electrodes in the brain or spine, in a minimally invasive way, is to get them to expand to cover the epidural space because they can be restricted by epidural adhesion.  The invention described here is a radiopaque, thin, cylindrical-shaped lead inside of a thin cylindrical tube.  Both are deployed together.  Once the percutaneous device is place in the desired position, the inner lead is pulled back to deploy the outer “wing” of the outer tube.  The entire device is then pulled back together to clear the epidural space.  To remove the device, the inner tube is then pushed forward to “un-deploy” the wings. 

Market Opportunity

The device can be used by surgeons or pain management physicians to overcome the challenge of deploying a percutaneous  stimulator or recording lead that takes on a larger final conformation once it is in the final epidural location.

Innovation and Meaningful Advantages

Neuromodulation is an expanding field especially in the era of the opioid crisis.  The innovation here makes it possible to clear epidural adhesions for deployment of a minimally invasive stimulator device.

Collaboration Opportunity

We are interested in exploring 1) startup opportunities with investors in the medical device space; 2) research collaborations with leading medical device companies to develop this technology; and 3) licensing opportunities with medical device companies.

 Principal Investigator

Albert E. Telfeian, M.D., Ph.D. 

  Professor and Vice Chair Quality Assurance, Department of Neurosurgery 

  Director, Center for Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Spine Surgery 

   IP Information

   PCT/US2023/081371 Filed 11/28/2023