MedTech Outlook Magazine: Specials Magazine

For millions of stroke survivors, recovery no longer means settling for physical limitations; it can mean breaking through them. Where progress once plateaued after traditional physical and occupational therapy, a new approach is helping patients move beyond that barrier. MicroTransponder®, Inc., a commercial-stage medical technology company, is changing the lives of stroke survivors with the Vivistim® Paired VNS™ System—a medical device that pairs vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with rehabilitative stroke therapy. By harnessing the brain’s natural ability to rewire, MicroTransponder offers patients a powerful path to healing, renewed confidence, lasting independence, and something often in short supply: real, measurable progress. At the helm of the company driving this meaningful breakthrough is CEO Richard Foust, a leader who has transformed MicroTransponder from a research-based startup into a commercial-stage pioneer in stroke care. “We are not tweaking an old system—we have created a new one. We spent years developing a patented mechanism that pairs vagus nerve stimulation with occupational and physical therapy to help stroke survivors regain upper limb function well beyond what they had been limited to with traditional therapy,” explains Foust. A Scientific Breakthrough The foundation of MicroTransponder’s innovation was laid over a decade ago, when a landmark paper in Nature outlined a new approach to rewiring the brain. The therapy is based on the principle of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections. Stimulating the vagus nerve during functional activities that were lost as a result of stroke helps stroke survivors accelerate motor recovery by strengthening the appropriate neural pathways. Traditional stroke therapies rely on repetition to help patients regain arm and hand function, but progress often stalls. MicroTransponder’s system offers an evidence-based therapy to help stroke survivors regain meaningful improvements in arm and hand function.

The strongest, most advanced pain treatment is BioWavePENS, an in-office medical procedure conducted under the supervision of a physician, using a BioWavePRO device combined with a unique patented pair of sterile, single-use microneedle percutaneous electrode arrays, that deliver up to 72 hours of continuous relief from a single 30-minute session. Each percutaneous electrode is comprised of over 1000 microneedles each 0.74mm in length that are inserted through the epidermis and provide a direct conductive pathway through skin, bypassing the impedance and other electrical properties of skin, which allow for deeper penetration of the active electrical field which provides enhanced efficacy and prolonged pain relief. Percutaneous electrodes are comfortable for patients and feel like Velcro to the touch. Initially developed for professional sports, BioWave was first introduced through a clinical study with the New York Giants, focusing on treating acute and chronic sports injuries. Since then, BioWave has been purchased by the majority of professional sports teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS, helping athletes manage pain and accelerate recovery and return to play following injury and surgery. BioWave is making a real difference in the lives of veterans. What started in just two VA hospitals in 2017 has now expanded to over 250 facilities nationwide, where the company is offering both non-invasive and percutaneous alternatives to traditional pain management. By addressing pain without relying on opioids or invasive procedures, it is helping veterans move more freely and reclaim a better quality of life. For those seeking relief at home, BioWaveHOME empowers patients to reduce hospital visits while maintaining prescription-strength relief. On the move, BioWaveGO becomes a portable ally that allows users to manage discomfort. One of the newest additions to BioWave’s medical device portfolio are BioWraps, which combine the benefits of electrical stimulation with compression in a wearable electrode garment. BioWraps are a unique patented design that utilizes very large fixed silver fabric electrodes, that allow for the treatment of up to 6X the volume of tissue as compared to conventional electrodes, while maintaining comfort and flexibility. Currently available for the back, knee, foot and ankle, hand and wrist, thigh and calf, BioWraps are also being developed for additional applications. This breakthrough has been particularly effective in relieving phantom limb pain, offering comfort where few solutions exist. BioWave is beneficial for menstrual cramps, pelvic floor pain (including interstitial cystitis) and migraines. For migraine sufferers, placing electrodes on the back of the neck or head (bi-occiput placement) stimulates the occipital nerve, creating a gentle, soothing sensation that radiates to the crown of the head, helping to ease pain and tension..