A novel medical device for reducing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in the hands

一种减少化疗引起的手部周围神经病变的新型医疗设备

• 批准号: MR/Z503800/1
• 负责人: Emmanuel Akinluyi
• 金额: $ 31.41万
• 依托单位: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2024 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=MR%2FZ503800%2F1
• 关键词: novel; medical; device; reducing; chemotherapy

We have invented a new and disruptive technology that can mitigate a common dose-limiting and/or debilitating side-effect of chemotherapy. We want to optimise this technology, embed it into a wearable product, and put it in/on the hands of cancer patients. Context & NeedChemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a form of nerve damage caused by chemotherapy drugs - it often starts in the hands and feet and causes pain, loss of function and visible damage. Depending on the type of chemotherapy, 30-90% (Beijers et al. 2012, Maihöfner et al. 2021) of patients will suffer from CIPN and its side effects. Given that the number of UK cancer survivors is set to increase from 3 million today to roughly 4 million by 2030 (Macmillian Cancer Support, 2022), the impact of CIPN will continue to grow.There are currently no effective treatments to prevent or reduce CIPN, and symptoms get worse as chemotherapy treatment progresses. This means that patients are often forced to stop their treatment, reducing the likelihood of their cancer being cured. Moreover, even if chemotherapy is successful, one in four cancer survivors suffer disabilities resulting from the side effects of chemotherapy, among which CIPN is dominant (Macmillian Cancer Support, 2022).The needs of chemotherapy patients are not being adequately met.Current solutions involve cooling of the skin, and/or compression of the hands and feet. They're effective to some extent, but their working principles need to be better understood. Crucially however, these approaches are not well-tolerated: they can be heavy, restrictive and generally uncomfortable. Their cold temperatures and pressure can cause pain and damage themselves, sometimes even frostbite. Furthermore, these technologies can be cumbersome to manage, meaning they are difficult for cancer care staff to use and support. These challenges significantly limit the uptake of these solutions. For the millions of people who could benefit from the prevention of CIPN, many won't—because these solutions create too much discomfort and can't be sustained. Our solution can do better. Proposed Solution (Potential Application & Benefits)We have discovered a way to reduce peripheral blood-flow during chemotherapy using targeted electrical stimulation. Reducing blood-flow will lower the amount of toxic chemotherapy drugs available for absorption by the nerve-endings in the fingertips and toes, therefore, protecting the peripheral nerves.We plan to create the 'Stim-mitts' (working product name); a medical device that can transform the experience and outcomes of cancer patients and survivors, who have undergone or will undergo chemotherapy. Uniquely, the Stim-mitts work quietly, affordably and without restricting hand movements—meaning that patients undergoing chemotherapy for hours or days are not bound helplessly to what are essentially arm restraints. This product stands to benefit an additional 10 million patients per year worldwide, and the impact of its use would be felt during chemotherapy and for the rest of their lives.

我们发明了一种新的颠覆性技术，可以减轻化疗常见的剂量限制和/或使人衰弱的副作用，我们希望优化这项技术，将其嵌入可穿戴产​​品中，并将其放入/戴在癌症患者的手上。背景和需求化疗引起的周围神经病变 (CIPN) 是化疗药物引起的一种神经损伤 - 通常始于手和脚，导致疼痛、功能丧失和明显损伤，具体取决于化疗的类型。鉴于英国癌症幸存者的数量预计将从目前的 300 万增加到 2030 年的约 400 万，30-90%（Beijers 等，2012，Maihöfner 等，2021）的患者将遭受 CIPN 及其副作用的困扰。 （Macmillian Cancer Support，2022），CIPN 的影响将继续增长。目前尚无有效的治疗方法来预防或减少 CIPN，并且随着化疗治疗，症状会变得更糟这意味着患者常常被迫停止治疗，从而降低了癌症治愈的可能性。此外，即使化疗成功，四分之一的癌症幸存者也会因化疗的副作用而遭受残疾，其中包括 CIPN。 （Macmillian Cancer Support，2022）。化疗患者的主要需求没有得到充分满足。当前的解决方案包括冷却皮肤和/或压迫手脚。它们在一定程度上是有效的，但其工作原理不同。需要更好地理解。但重要的是，这些方法的耐受性较差：它们可能很重、有限制性，而且通常会感到不舒服，而且寒冷的温度和压力会导致疼痛和损伤，有时甚至会冻伤。此外，这些技术管理起来很麻烦。对于癌症护理人员来说，这些挑战极大地限制了这些解决方案的采用，而对于数以百万计可以从预防 CIPN 中受益的人来说，许多人却无法受益，因为这些解决方案会带来太多的不适。我们的解决方案可以做到。更好的建议解决方案（潜在应用和优点）我们发现了一种在化疗过程中使用定向电刺激来减少外周血流量的方法，从而减少神经末梢可吸收的有毒化疗药物的量。因此，指尖和脚趾，保护周围神经。我们计划创建“Stim-mitts”（工作产品名称）的医疗设备，可以改变已经接受或将接受化疗的癌症患者和幸存者的经历和结果； 。独特之处在于，Stim-mitts 工作安静、价格实惠且不会限制手部活动，这意味着接受数小时或数天化疗的患者不会无助地束缚在手臂上。该产品每年将使全球另外 1000 万患者受益。并且其使用的影响将在化疗期间和他们的余生中感受到。