Invasive neural stimulation glioblastoma
Design innovation in deep brain stimulation therapy
QV Bioelectronics aims to deliver a surgically implanted neural stimulation device to prolong patient quality of life in glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive brain cancer.
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Lucid’s team designed and developed pre-clinical prototypes to investigate inherent challenges and test the feasibility of their proposed solutions. These prototypes served as tangible and compelling demonstrations of their principles which helped secure funding for further development.
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Objectives included:
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Visualisation and prototyping to investigate options for delivering the surgical protocol.
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Designing fixation elements to enable accurate implant positioning.
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Optimising the geometry of a flexible cranioplasty to fit differing skull anatomy.
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Developing electronics for clinician-controlled neural stimulation in tissue adjacent to the surgical cavity.
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Delivering rigs for in-vitro simulation and monitoring of stimulation prototypes.
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Investigating appropriate configurations pre-human trial animal implantation.
Expertise used to create the GRACE:
Imagine
To understand clinical, and technical challenges our designers met with and maintained continuous dialogue with surgeons, patients and QV Bio’s team. Mapping a simulated surgical procedure in theatre, we understood risks and spotted opportunities to improve pre-conceptions of clinical protocol and product design.
Design
Working through options with sketch visuals, 3D CAD, 3D printed working prototypes we engaged stakeholders in providing valuable feedback, optimising design and the implantation process.
Make
Lucid’s design engineers made prototype electronics and rigs were designed and made to simulate the effects of implantation to the brain in humans and sheep.
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The impact:
Enhanced
user experience
Focussing on tangible, early demonstration clinical utility and usability, QV Bioelectronics has raised over £2m in equity funding for further development.
Improved
environmental
and social
impact
Deep brain stimulation offers significant extension in quality of life for people with terminal brain cancers.
Enhanced
brand impact
GRACE has been extensively used in corporate presentations to clearly communicate QV Bio’s objectives.
Enhanced
manufacturing
capabilities
Early consideration of modular design for independent sub-assemblies - appropriate for biocompatibility and sterilisation protocols could enable efficient low-volume batch build and test.
A safe, regulated
product
All Lucid’s work is delivered under our ISO 13485 accreditation for medical device design and manufacturing, providing a solid foundation for ongoing development.