Autonomix Medical has secured a new patent from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its catheter-based platform technology designed to enhance precision in nerve-targeted treatments.
The patent, numbered 12,279,889 B2, is titled “Systems and Methods for Neurological Traffic and/or Receptor Functional Evaluation and/or Modification.” It covers advanced systems and methods for mapping and monitoring electrophysiological signals during neuromodulation or denervation procedures.
The technology aims to treat conditions linked to sympathetic nerve activity, such as hypertension, chronic pain syndromes, cardiac modulation, and various metabolic and neurological disorders.
The patent highlights several components of Autonomix’s technology, including sensors integrated into microneedles for accessing deep tissue, multiband optical sensors to assess tissue viability, and microfingers that ensure reliable contact for distributed sensing.
Additionally, the system includes control mechanisms that automatically adjust treatment in response to feedback signals.
A key feature of this platform is its catheter-based microchip sensing array antenna capable of detecting neural signals with heightened sensitivity compared to existing technologies. This innovation facilitates a precision-guided approach to sense, treat, and verify targeted nerve ablation using proprietary radiofrequency ablation (RF) ablation technology.
Current treatments typically involve opioids or invasive procedures with ethanol injections, which often offer only limited relief and carry potential side effects.
Autonomix aims to develop technologies that transform the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the nervous system. The company’s platform aims to enable transvascular diagnosis and treatment across various parts of the peripheral nervous system.
Initially focusing on pain management in pancreatic cancer patients, the company’s technology is said to offer a spectrum of potential applications in areas like cardiology and hypertension.
While the technology remains investigational and is not yet approved for marketing in the US, Autonomix plans to submit an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) this year. This will facilitate US clinical trials aimed at obtaining approval to commercialise the Autonomix Sensing and RF Ablation System for treating pancreatic cancer pain.
