In May 2019 inomed, GTX Medical in Einthoven, the University EPFL in Lausanne and the University Hospital Heidelberg launched the European research project CONFIRM. The aim of the project is to improve the surgical procedure of spinal cord stimulation implants.
Electrical stimulation via spinal cord implants can restore leg movement in patients with lesions of the spinal cord. For targeted stimulation, electrodes must be placed close to the relevant stimulation hot spots of the spinal cord. The CONFIRM project, funded within the Eurostars program, will develop a neuromonitoring system, that facilitates optimal intraoperative placement of the stimulation electrodes.
The intraoperative device will enable direct verification of the implant position by intraoperative test stimulation and assessment of the elicited leg muscle responses depending on the position of the implant. Such a system will support the surgeon during implantation in order to achieve the best stimulation results while reducing the implantation time to the minimum. The results of the intraoperative measurements can additionally support the critical setup of the implant system to achieve the best outcome of the therapy.