BPH Energy investee Cortical Dynamics issued US patent for brain monitoring technology
BPH’s Cortical Dynamics is working with local distributor Globaluck to introduce the brain anaesthesia response monitoring device to the Korean market.
Diversified investment company BPH Energy (ASX: BPH) has confirmed that Perth-based investee Cortical Dynamics has been granted a US patent for to its brain anaesthesia response monitor (BARM) technology.
The new patent is titled Apparatus and Process for Measuring Brain Activity and was made under US Patent Application No 17/614701.
Cortical has developed an extensive patent portfolio for the BARM unit, providing protection across a number of key brain monitoring markets including the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
Patents have also been awarded in France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland and the People’s Republic of China.
Measuring brain activity
Cortical’s BARM unit uses an adhesive sensor applied to the forehead to measure a patient’s brain electrical activity during an operation and determine the depth of anaesthesia.
The unit is designed to ensure patients do not wake up during surgery, and can potentially reduce the incidence of side effects associated with anaesthetics.
Cortical said the technology would offer sustainable competitive advantages to patients, anaesthetists, and hospitals including reduced surgical risk, increased patient care, optimised use of anaesthetics, and faster bed turnaround in theatre and post-operative recovery rooms.
To date, BARM has been used in over 200 operations at hospitals in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and France with positive outcomes.
Human clinical trial
The first human clinical trial using BARM end-to-end (from electrode to monitor) was primarily designed to evaluate the technology’s ability to distinguish between two doses of commonly-used analgesic agent fentanyl.
It also aimed to assess the immunity of BARM to a range of mechanical and electrical artefacts known to complicate brain activity measurement.
A total of 25 patients scheduled for coronary artery graft bypass surgery were recruited to the trial.
The trial’s findings suggested that the BARM unit may find “significant utility” in the delivery of optimal and balanced surgical anaesthesia.
BARM funding
In its June quarterly report, BPH said Cortical had been awarded $137,000 in funding to further develop BARM technology with a view to optimising patient experience under anaesthesia and implementing brain data monitoring and feedback.
The funding falls under the fourth round of the Australian government’s BioMedTech Horizons program, which is an initiative of the Medical Research Future Fund delivered by not-for-profit medical technology organisation MTPConnect.