Project description
A novel device for spinal cord stimulation
Chronic pain affects billions of people worldwide, preventing them from leading a productive working and social life and incurring significant socioeconomic costs. As a pain relief technique, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is used to block pain signals before they reach the brain through the delivery of electrical stimuli to the spinal cord by means of implantable leads. Currently, two types of SCS leads are available: multi-column paddle leads and cylindrical leads. Multi-column paddle leads offer better overall treatment results, but current products can only be inserted surgically. Scientists of the EU-funded PercPad project are developing a minimally invasive device, the percutaneous spinal cord stimulation paddle lead (SCS Expert), which can be implanted also by anaesthesiologists and pain specialists. Following product optimisation, the PercPad team will undertake the necessary activities to introduce the device into the market.
Objective
Worldwide, around 1.5 Billion people suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain undermines the ability to lead a productive working and social life, and it has significant impacts on the private and public economy. The estimated total cost for chronic pain is calculated to reach yearly as much as €455 Billion in the USA, and €300 Billion in Europe.
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is a pain relief technique that consist in delivering current pulses to the spinal cord in order to block the sensation of pain. Basic SCS devices comprise implantable leads that are connected to a pulse generator controlled by a control unit. The leads currently available in the market are rather bulky and rigid, poorly stretchable and usually their implantation requires a complex chirurgical intervention.
The Percutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation Paddle Lead (SCS ExpertTM) proposed by WISE is a foldable lead fit for minimally invasive percutaneous implantation, which can be achieved by neurosurgeons and anesthetists. This innovative product addresses a key market need within the SCS segment of the growing neuromodulation market. The goal of this project (PercPad) is to complete the development of SCS ExpertTM and to prepare the path to introduce it into market by the Q4 2022. PercPad is a solid project that will generate important benefits for our company. Within a 5-year period after the launch, WISE expects cummulative gross profits of €36.2 Million, with a payback period of less than 5 years.
We have identified a promising market opportunity, as the global neuromodulation market is projected to attain a value of €6.5 Billion in 2022 by rising at a CAGR of 12.5% from 2017, and our target segment is expected to cover over 1/2 of such market worth. Altogether, this represents a very promising scenario for the deployment of SCS ExpertTM and we envisage a country entry SOM of 1.6% reaching a 15% after 5 years.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinator
20093 Cologno Monzese Mi
Italy
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.