Locally developed wireless device may help manage chronic pain

SINGAPORE — Patients with chronic pain can look forward to a new option to manage their condition.

A wireless implantable chronic pain management device is being developed by A*STAR’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME) and local biotechnology firm Biospark Technologies.

Currently, patients in need of pain management can turn to neurostimulators, which are surgically implanted devices that trigger mild electrical signals to block pain signals from reaching the brain. However, as these devices are battery-operated, patients need to undergo surgery every few years to replace the batteries.

IME and Biospark Technologies said today (Jan 13) in a press release that new device would eliminate the need for such surgery, as it is powered wirelessly.

Expected to be just 12mm long — about as small as a grain of rice — it would be significantly smaller than traditional neurostimulators, which are often longer than 54mm. It will “pave the way for smaller neurostimulators that are not dependent on bulky batteries,” they said.

Like neurostimulators, the new wireless implantable device would be implanted surgically, near the spinal nerves, and deliver electrical pulses that prevent pain signals from reaching the brain.

“The development is expected to be a breakthrough and can treat chronic pain such as failed back surgery syndrome, nerve-related pain and complex regional pain syndrome – a condition that affects one of the limbs due to an injury or trauma to the limb,” the release said.

Developers aim to complete a functional prototype of the device in a year and will conduct extensive clinical studies to ensure patient safety, they said.

Professor Dim-Lee Kwong, the executive director of IME, said such innovations are “shaping the future of healthcare (by) providing quality treatment and convenience to patients”.

“IME’s collaborations with ... local enterprises such as Biospark will continue to catalyse the growth of impactful innovations that deliver value to the healthcare community,” he added.

The co-founder and director of Biospark Technologies, Mdm Long Qiongzhen, said: “Biospark is excited to be able to make a real difference in the lives of chronic pain patients throughout the world. IME’s deep technological know-how will significantly accelerate the commercial readiness of our products.”