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Columbia University Medical Center Uses Cyberkinetics' NeuroPort(TM) System

Posted on: Tuesday, 28 March 2006, 09:00 CST

Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: CYKN: "Cyberkinetics"), and Columbia University Medical Center ("Columbia") have entered into a collaborative agreement to evaluate the utility of brain electrical activity recordings obtained using Cyberkinetics' NeuroPort(TM) Neural Monitoring System ("NeuroPort System"). Columbia intends to use the NeuroPort System to improve the understanding of certain abnormal human brain processes, which may include those commonly associated with epileptic seizures, Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, as well as many other neurological diseases. As part of the agreement, Cyberkinetics has an option to license any inventions derived from the research collaboration.

Cyberkinetics' NeuroPort System is a 510(k) FDA-cleared medical device that is indicated for the temporary (less than 30 days) recording and monitoring of brain electrical activity. The NeuroPort System is a novel diagnostic neural monitoring tool designed to provide neurologists and neurosurgeons with cellular-level, detailed information regarding the electrical activity of the brain, which could lead to more accurate diagnoses and enhanced patient outcomes.

Over 200,000 patients in the United States are monitored annually using invasive systems that require surgical use of at least one neural sensor. Of these patients, approximately 5,000 have craniotomies related to severe epilepsy; and approximately 50,000 undergo emergency craniotomies for traumatic brain injury and stroke. An additional 125,000 patients with less severe head traumas are monitored with intra-cranial pressure sensors.

At Columbia University Medical Center, the collaborative effort will be led by Ronald G. Emerson, M.D., a world recognized leader in the field of neurophysiological and critical care monitoring and advanced methods of EEG analysis and a Professor in the Department of Neurology at Columbia University. Dr. Emerson has recruited a top-notch team of neurosurgeons, neurologists and neurophysiologists to assist him as co-investigators with the research collaboration.

Dr. Emerson noted, "The field of neuromonitoring currently relies on data of limited quality and quantity to make medical decisions. The data provided by Cyberkinetics' NeuroPort System should enable us to better understand in detail how the brain functions and processes information. Using this new system, my research team and I hope to learn how to decode and eventually how to manipulate directly the brain's internal data streams. This knowledge may lead to improved diagnostics and important therapeutic advances in areas including stroke, epilepsy, movement disorders and neurocritical care."

"Cyberkinetics' platform technology has already been used to retrieve and interpret cellular signals in the brain that relate to intended movement - a dynamic advancement on its own," said John Donoghue, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer and founder of Cyberkinetics. "Now, Dr. Emerson and his team will use the NeuroPort System to detect abnormal signals that could ultimately be used in the treatment of epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and other neurological-related disorders. If successful, such therapeutically relevant information could ultimately enable us to reduce the impact of these significant diseases."

"This agreement with Columbia is a key step in our initial launch of the NeuroPort System," added Timothy Surgenor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cyberkinetics. "We expect Dr. Emerson's team to validate the use of the NeuroPort System and to help us to identify specific applications where the data that the system can provide are the most useful to the accurate diagnosis of a number of conditions that today are poorly treated. This collaboration will provide an important reference point as we expand the number of centers using the NeuroPort System in 2006."

About Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems, Inc.

Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems, Inc., a leader in the neurotechnology industry, is developing neural stimulation, sensing and processing technology to improve the lives of those with severe paralysis resulting from spinal cord injuries, neurological disorders and other conditions of the nervous system. Cyberkinetics' product development pipeline includes: the FDA-approved NeuroPort(TM) System, a neural monitor designed for acute inpatient applications and labeled for temporary (less than 30 days) recording and monitoring of brain electrical activity; the Andara Oscillating Field Stimulator(TM) (OFS) Device, designed to stimulate regeneration of the neural tissue surrounding the spinal cord; and the BrainGate(TM) System, designed to provide communication and control of a computer, assistive devices, and, ultimately, limb movement. Additional Information about Cyberkinetics' acquisition of Andara Life Sciences, Inc., including an investor fact sheet, is available at Cyberkinetics website in the "Media Room" at http://www.cyberkineticsinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements, including statements about Cyberkinetics' product development plans and progress, potential development of proprietary inventions and benefits that may be realized by certain research programs. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may,""will,""believe,""expect,""anticipate" or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements and reported results shall not be considered an indication of our future performance. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include our limited operating history; our lack of profits from operations; our ability to successfully develop and commercialize our proposed products; a lengthy approval process and the uncertainty of FDA and other governmental regulatory requirements; clinical trials may fail to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of our products; the degree and nature of our competition; our ability to employ and retain qualified employees; compliance with recent legislation regarding corporate governance, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; as well as those risks more fully discussed in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are difficult to predict and some of which are beyond our control.

Source: Business Wire

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