A Novel Sutureless Safety Device for Percutaneous Nerve Stimulators

University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed an external sutureless fixation safety device for percutaneous nerve stimulators, which is aimed at preventing movement or safety concerns associated with surgeries for implanted nerve stimulators. 

Description

Surgically implanted nerve stimulators are an often-used treatment for chronic pain and nerve injuries. Before such procedure, patients usually undergo a “trial surgery” to determine if they are an appropriate candidate for a more permanent implantable nerve stimulator. The trial stimulator pokes out the skin, thus requiring a suture, and is traditionally kept in place via tape and wire knots, which runs the risk of moving away from the target area. This novel device is both sutureless and attaches to the wire itself to address the clinical problem of wire migration, thus preventing the likelihood of urgent surgical interventions during this trial stimulator period.

Applications

Percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulators and spinal cord stimulator trials
Chronic pain
Nerve injury

Advantages

Unlike existing fixation devices involving tape, Steri-strips, suture, or a Stay-fix device, this invention is a physical device that aims to prevent the device from getting pulled in or pulled out of the body. The device is useful for various spinal cord stimulator trial lead systems or any percutaneous nerve stimulator trials.

Invention Readiness

A 3D printed prototype has been developed, and the invention is at the prototype stage.

IP Status

https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2023137210A1