A University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) neurosurgeon has received a patent for a nerve stimulator device designed to treat head, neck and face pain.
Erika Peterson, M.D., was granted U.S. Patent No. 10,688,299 B2: Electrode for Peripheral Nerve Stimulationin a process that has taken five years. Peterson’s specialty is implanting devices that will interact with the body’s nervous system, addressing chronic pain issues. She said there have been pain relief devices on the market but they were designed with other body parts in mind.
This device specifically targets occipital neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia and migraines. According to Peterson, the device’s low profile could make it practical for treating shoulders or arms, as well.
“These stimulators interact with the nervous system similar to the way a pacemaker interacts with heart rhythms, sending small pulses to keep the body acting the way it should,” Petersen said in a statement. “Also similar to a pacemaker, the stimulator device itself and its wires are implanted under the skin and can leave a bump you can feel outside of the skin.
Peterson has worked alongside BioVentures LLC to patent and develop the device. BioVentures will be working alongside Peterson to identify a manufacturer to develop the product further and prepare it for clinical trials.
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