OpenNerve Platform for Post-Stroke Dysphagia and Aspiration Pneumonia

NIH RePORTER · NIH · U41 · $293,369 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Despite a wide-ranging interest in performing clinical research for bioelectronic medicine applications, there are no open-architecture and open-source implantable systems for autonomic nerve stimulation and recording available to researchers. As a result, progress towards bioelectronic clinical therapies is hampered by the significant technical, regulatory, and financial hurdles faced by researchers to gain access to the few commercial implantable neuromodulation technologies for early clinical studies. The few clinical closed-loop implantable neuromodulation systems presently available are not suitable for the many bioelectronic medicine applications envisioned, as they lack key functional modules for accessing the autonomic nerves; moreover, most use closed architectures (e.g., the use of custom ASICs instead of commercial over-the-shelf components) and proprietary software, limiting the ability to adapt such systems for different clinical indications. To address these shortcomings, the overall objective of this HORNET OpenNerve Platform is to develop and disseminate a fully open-architecture and open-source implantable system for autonomic nerve stimulation and end-organ sensing. In this administrative supplement, we will perform short-term and long-term validation of the OpenNerve Platform functionality in large animals for closed-loop cervical vagus nerve stimulation and glossopharyngeal nerve stimulation for treatment of stroke-induced dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia. The OpenNerve Platform includes an external charger and controller, implantable pulse generator, and an assortment of implantable leads for nerve stimulation and internal organ sensing. The use of vagus nerve stimulation for treating stroke -induced dysphasia and aspiration pneumonia was selected based on potential clinical indications that are of interest to the NIH SPARC program.

Key facts

NIH application ID
11080169
Project number
3U41NS129514-02S4
Recipient
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Principal Investigator
Raja Hitti
Activity code
U41
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2024
Award amount
$293,369
Award type
3
Project period
2022-09-23 → 2025-08-31