What to do with high blood pressure when tablets don't help? Microsystems technology offers new possibilities
Around half of all high blood pressure patients are unable to lower their blood pressure sufficiently despite drug therapy: the permanently stressed body reacts with further illnesses. This is set to change in the future, and a product is currently being developed to market maturity.
The small electrode, which is to be implanted in a patient in the future, appears to be the same size as a 1 cent piece and can be wrapped around a pin. This nerve stimulation option was researched at the University of Freiburg and the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. With the two medical technology companies Osypka AG and Aesculap AG, two strong partners from industry are also involved in the project.
In 2014, Freiburg researchers Dennis Plachta and Thomas Stieglitz from the Chair of Biomedical Microtechnology at IMTEK developed a new type of cuff electrode for nerve stimulation in cooperation with neurosurgeons Mortimer Gierthmühlen and Josef Zentner from the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. Dennis Plachta received the sponsorship award from the Forum for Applied Informatics and Microsystems Technology (FAIM) in January 2016.
The stimulation of the vagus nerve using the latest microsystems technology is still in its infancy in terms of the many potential applications, but has enormous potential for the treatment of chronic diseases as an alternative to pharmaceuticals. This joint project focuses on the manipulation of the baroloop, a circuit in the body that regulates blood pressure, among other things. Signals measured by receptors are transmitted to the brain via the vagus nerve so that stimulation of the nerve can influence blood pressure.
The "Baroloop" project (FKZ 13GW0120B) is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research with around 1.2 million euros under the "Individualized Medical Technology" call and is expected to run until the end of 2018.
Further information can be found at www.medizintechnologie.de
Contact:
Dr. Mortimer Gierthmühlen
Senior Physician
Department of Neurosurgery
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-93390
mortimer.gierthmuehlen@uniklinik-freiburg.de