# HORNET  Center for Autonomic Nerve Recording and Stimulation Systems (CARSS)

> **NIH NIH U41** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2024 · $255,156

## Abstract

Despite a wide-ranging interest in performing clinical research for bioelectronic medicine applications, there are
no available open-architecture and open-source implantable systems for autonomic nerve stimulation and
recording. As a result, clinical researchers face significant technical, regulatory, and financial hurdles in getting
access to the implantable neuromodulation technologies that are required for performing these clinical studies.
There are several clinical closed-loop implantable neuromodulation systems presently available and they have
been helpful in supporting clinical research. However, in their current form, none are suitable for the bioelectronic
medicine applications, as they lack key modules for accessing the autonomic nerves; moreover, many of them
use closed architectures and proprietary software.
 To address this challenge, we propose to develop the PCBA and firmware for the implantable pulse generator
(IPG) platform and external charger, which will be based on a flexible, open-architecture, open-source, and
modular approach. Such flexibility will allow a significant degree of customization for different clinical indications,
including open-loop and closed-loop IPG operation. The PCBA and firmware modules will be designed for
interfacing with a large selection of sensing and stimulation leads. Once the IPG and charger modules are
developed, they will be subjected to the benchtop testing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11044019
- **Project number:** 3U41NS129514-02S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Victor Pikov
- **Activity code:** U41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $255,156
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2024-04-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11044019

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11044019, HORNET  Center for Autonomic Nerve Recording and Stimulation Systems (CARSS) (3U41NS129514-02S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11044019. Licensed CC0.

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