World’s First Smart, Refillable and Fully Implantable Medical Device Delivers Medicine Directly to the Brain
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 02 Oct 2023 |

The blood-brain barrier is a strong defense mechanism that safeguards the brain from harmful substances while still letting vital nutrients in. Made up of specialized endothelial cells, tight junctions, and astrocytes, this barrier effectively blocks over 95% of drugs delivered through the bloodstream or in pill form, making it hard to treat a range of brain-related conditions. Now, an implantable drug delivery device capable of circumventing the blood-brain barrier could revolutionize brain treatment.
CraniUS LLC’s (Baltimore, MD, USA) NeuroPASS device is a groundbreaking solution that aims to overcome the obstacles created by the blood-brain barrier. It is the world’s first fully implantable, wireless medical device that enables chronic and direct medicine delivery to the brain. It is easily refillable, rechargeable from a distance, and can remain unnoticed under the skin in the skull. The device employs catheters driven by a pump that go into the brain tissue, allowing for controlled infusion of medications. NeuroPASS uses a technique called convection-enhanced delivery (CED), which utilizes pressure differences to accurately spread medications throughout the targeted brain area, surpassing the limitations of passive diffusion. The device is versatile, with applications for a variety of brain-related conditions including neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors.
A preliminary study has validated the device's capability to achieve meaningful medication flow and distribution beyond the initial catheter pathway by delivering gadolinium through catheters with NeuroPASS. This marks the first time that a device has been successfully implanted in the skull area to allow direct brain access for successful convection. This achievement clears the way for CraniUS to proceed to an FDA pre-clinical study, and the company aims to secure IND approval for initial human trials by the close of 2024.
"I could not be any prouder of our talented team and the findings of this recent breakthrough study,” said Mike Maglin, CEO of CraniUS. “Being able to show that our patented device is both safe and effective in achieving convection in large animals with similar brains to humans represents a tremendous culmination of hard work and determination by our team."
Related Links:
CraniUS LLC
Latest Critical Care News
- Novel Coating Significantly Extends Longevity of Implantable Biosensors
- Nanogel-Based Drug Delivery Technology to Improve UTI Treatment
- New IV Pole Improves Safety and Ease of Administering IV Medications at Hospital Bedside
- Battery-Powered Wearable Device Monitors Joint Pain
- Wireless Pacifier Monitors Vitals of NICU Babies Without Need for Painful Blood Draws
- Breakthrough Sensor Technology Tracks Stroke After Effects
- New Study Demonstrates AI-Assisted Detection of Reduced Ejection Fraction
- Novel 3D Adipose Tissue Bioprinting Method to Find Applications in Regenerative Medicine
- Miniaturized Pacemaker for Newborns Found Safe and Effective for Up to Two Years
- World’s First 3D Neural Electrode Uses Soft Actuation Technology to Avoid Nerve Damage
- Smartwatch Algorithm Detects Cardiac Arrest
- Blood-Brain Barrier “Organ Chip” Treats Brain Tumors Unreachable by Chemotherapy
- AI Model Could Use ECG Tests to Detect Premature Aging and Cognitive Decline
- World-First Technology Uses Real-Time ECG Signal Analysis for Accurate CVAD Placement
- AI Outperforms Humans at Analyzing Long-Term ECG Recordings
- Smart Sensor Enables Precise, Self-Powered Tracking of Healing Wounds
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
Innovative Risk Score Predicts Heart Attack or Stroke in Kidney Transplant Candidates
Heart researchers have utilized an innovative risk assessment score to accurately predict whether patients being evaluated for kidney transplants are at risk for future major cardiac events, such as a... Read more
AI Algorithm Detects Early-Stage Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease Using EHRs
Liver disease, which is treatable when detected early, often goes unnoticed until it reaches advanced stages. Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the most prevalent form of liver disease,... Read moreSurgical Techniques
view channel
Easy-To-Apply Gel Could Prevent Formation of Post-Surgical Abdominal Adhesions
Surgical adhesions are a frequent and often life-threatening complication following open or laparoscopic abdominal surgery. These adhesions develop in the weeks following surgery as the body heals.... Read more
Groundbreaking Leadless Pacemaker to Prevent Invasive Surgeries for Children
Leadless pacemakers marked a significant advancement in cardiac care, primarily because traditional pacemakers are dependent on leads, which are prone to breakage over time. Currently, two FDA-approved... Read morePatient Care
view channel
Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
Approximately 4 million patients in the European Union acquire healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections each year, with around 37,000 deaths directly resulting from these infections,... Read more
First-Of-Its-Kind Portable Germicidal Light Technology Disinfects High-Touch Clinical Surfaces in Seconds
Reducing healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) remains a pressing issue within global healthcare systems. In the United States alone, 1.7 million patients contract HAIs annually, leading to approximately... Read more
Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization
An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more
Game-Changing Innovation in Surgical Instrument Sterilization Significantly Improves OR Throughput
A groundbreaking innovation enables hospitals to significantly improve instrument processing time and throughput in operating rooms (ORs) and sterile processing departments. Turbett Surgical, Inc.... Read moreHealth IT
view channel
Printable Molecule-Selective Nanoparticles Enable Mass Production of Wearable Biosensors
The future of medicine is likely to focus on the personalization of healthcare—understanding exactly what an individual requires and delivering the appropriate combination of nutrients, metabolites, and... Read more
Smartwatches Could Detect Congestive Heart Failure
Diagnosing congestive heart failure (CHF) typically requires expensive and time-consuming imaging techniques like echocardiography, also known as cardiac ultrasound. Previously, detecting CHF by analyzing... Read morePoint of Care
view channel
Handheld, Sound-Based Diagnostic System Delivers Bedside Blood Test Results in An Hour
Patients who go to a doctor for a blood test often have to contend with a needle and syringe, followed by a long wait—sometimes hours or even days—for lab results. Scientists have been working hard to... Read more
Smartphone-Enabled, Paper-Based Quantitative Diagnostic Platform Transforms POC Testing
Point-of-care diagnostics are crucial for public health, offering rapid, on-site testing that enables prompt diagnosis and treatment. This is especially valuable in remote or underserved regions where... Read moreBusiness
view channel
Becton Dickinson to Spin Out Biosciences and Diagnostic Solutions Business
Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA), has announced that its board of directors has unanimously authorized BD management to pursue a plan to separate BD's Biosciences and Diagnostic... Read more