Bioelectronics: A New era in Medical Care Is on the Horizon

Bioelectronics, generally defined, isn't new. Doctors Rune Elmqvist and Ake Senning implanted the first pacemaker in 1958. FDA approved the first spinal cord stimulator (SCS) in 1989. While both solutions continue to help patients worldwide, smaller, more advanced technology has pushed bioelectronics into a new era. Researchers have developed novel methods to use electrical impulses to regulate the brain and/or nervous system, resulting in highly targeted, effective treatment. "While SCS benefits last as long as the device stimulates, and the pacemaker continually keeps the heart on path, we treat and hope to modify the core underlying disease," said Anthony Arnold, CEO of SetPoint Medical, which develops bioelectronic therapy for chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's Disease. "Our device delivers a one- to four-minute dose per day—much like a drug—and then the body takes over." Unlike a drug, SetPoint's device and others don't course through the bloodstream, causing unwanted side effects. This advantage, combined with an aging population, a rise in chronic disease and a move toward personalized medicine, has led to a new current of bioelectronics interest. "This industry has the potential to disrupt the healthcare market," said Natasha Russkina, vice president of business development and corporate finance for BioSig Technologies. "We have large patient population with unmet clinical needs. We've seen significant breakthroughs in pharmaceu...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Implants Electronics Source Type: news