Neuros Medical reports early results from study of pain-blocking device

Neuros Medical announced positive early results in the first-ever in-human feasibility study of its pain-blocking device.

In a 30-day test focused on one patient with chronic residual limb pain, the amputation patient reported a reduction in pain. The patient hadn’t experienced that since the amputation, according to a statement from Neuros.

The test is a “key milestone” for Neuros because it marks the first time the company’s device has been tested in a human, CEO Jon Snyder said.

The company hopes to complete the feasibility study near the middle of 2011 after enrolling about five more patients. Neuros is likely three or four years away from applying for regulatory clearance to sell the device, Snyder said.

The Willoughby, Ohio, company is developing a device that uses a pacemaker-sized generator and an electrode to stimulate nerves to block pain from amputations, sometimes called stump pain, without the use of drugs. Last year, Neuros received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to further develop the device.

The development-stage company is growing, having recently hired an electrical engineer and chief operating officer, which brought its total to four employees. Snyder hopes to hire more engineers over the coming months.

Created in October 2008, Neuros Medical landed $375,000 in seed funding from JumpStart and Case Technology Ventures in March 2009, and $1.8 million from several investors, including lead investor North Coast Angel Fund in Cleveland, during its first round of venture financing in October 2009.