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，并将其放在癌症患者手中。化疗引起的周围神经病变（CIPN）是化疗药物引起的神经损伤的一种形式-它通常始于手和脚，并导致疼痛，功能丧失和可见的损伤。根据化疗的类型，30-90%（Beijers et al. 2012，Maihöfner et al. 2021）的患者将遭受CIPN及其副作用。鉴于英国癌症幸存者的数量将从今天的300万增加到2030年的约400万（Macmillian Cancer Support，2022），CIPN的影响将继续增长。目前没有有效的治疗方法来预防或减少CIPN，随着化疗的进展，症状会变得更糟。这意味着患者往往被迫停止治疗，降低了癌症治愈的可能性。此外，即使化疗成功，也有四分之一的癌症幸存者因化疗的副作用而致残，其中CIPN占主导地位（Macmillian Cancer Support，2022）。化疗患者的需求没有得到充分满足。目前的解决方案包括冷却皮肤和/或压迫手脚。它们在某种程度上是有效的，但它们的工作原理需要更好地理解。然而，至关重要的是，这些方法的耐受性不好：它们可能很重，限制性很强，而且通常不舒服。他们寒冷的温度和压力会导致疼痛和伤害自己，有时甚至冻伤。此外，这些技术可能很难管理，这意味着癌症护理人员很难使用和支持它们。这些挑战极大地限制了这些解决方案的采用。对于数以百万计的人谁可以受益于预防CIPN，许多人不会，因为这些解决方案创造了太多的不适，不能持续。我们的解决方案可以做得更好。建议的解决方案（潜在应用和益处）我们已经发现了一种在化疗期间使用靶向电刺激减少外周血流量的方法。减少血流量可以减少指尖和脚趾的神经末梢吸收有毒化疗药物的量，从而保护周围神经。我们计划创造“刺激手套”（工作产品名称），这是一种医疗设备，可以改变已经或将要接受化疗的癌症患者和幸存者的体验和结果。独特的是，刺激手套工作安静，经济实惠，不限制手的运动-这意味着病人接受化疗数小时或数天不无助地束缚什么基本上是手臂限制。该产品每年将使全球额外1000万患者受益，其使用的影响将在化疗期间和他们的余生中感受到。