AI Insight
SpiraMed is a new stereotactic delivery system that uses a helical catheter to administer advanced therapies to the human brain through a single trajectory rather than multiple needle insertions. The device deploys a customizable helix that retracts while simultaneously delivering therapeutic products, achieving complete target coverage in seconds. Testing in agarose phantoms, sheep, and human cadaver brains demonstrated improved delivery volume, faster administration, better target coverage, reduced backflow, and lower predicted bleeding risk compared to conventional multi-needle approaches.
Why it matters
This technology could make cell and gene therapies for brain diseases safer and more effective by reducing surgical trauma, improving drug distribution, and shortening procedure times. The ability to customize the delivery pattern to individual patient anatomy and avoid blood vessels may expand treatment options for various neurological conditions.
Understand the Science
⚠️ Preprint – Noch nicht peer-reviewed
Dieser Artikel wurde noch nicht von unabhängigen Experten begutachtet. Die Ergebnisse sind vorläufig und sollten mit Vorsicht interpretiert werden.
Stereotactic needle-based delivery remains the standard for local administration of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) to the human brain. ATMP administration typically involves multiple trajectories, presenting cumulative risks and prolonging surgery. Reflux-prone, patchy therapy coverage compromises clinical results. We demonstrate a novel approach, deploying a helical delivery catheter via a single access trajectory per target, referred to as SpiraMed. Helix retraction is synchronised with therapy delivery, enabling comprehensive target coverage in seconds. Helix pitch and diameter can be precisely tailored to patient-specific target volume and vascular anatomy, as part of the preoperative stereotactic surgical planning process. Testing in agarose phantoms, live sheep and cadaveric human brain confirms enhanced therapy delivery volume, delivery speed and target coverage, with reductions in reflux and predicted risk of bleeding complication. SpiraMed represents a new paradigm, promising to help deliver on the transformative potential of cell and gene therapies across the spectrum of human CNS disease.
Source: SpiraMed: A Stereotactic Helix-based Therapy Delivery system for the Human Brain