SBIR Phase II: A Novel Implantable System for Neurogenic Control

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project is a novel enclosed implantable system for neurogenic control. Current management of the condition includes invasive procedures and long-term medications. This project aims to establish an implantable nervous interface that will restore awareness of previously undetectable bodily functions and allow for reliable activation of those functions. This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II project progresses the development of an implantable nervous interface, for closed loop systems that restores selective lower body sensation and enables control functions in individuals that lack control due to neurological damage. The technical objective of this project is to restore this missing sensory signal by selectively stimulating specific sensory white-matter pathways that normally convey distension information. The implantable system integrates a novel interface platform neurological stimulation interface designed to recreate the natural sensation of lower body functions with a proven peripheral nerve stimulation approach. Together, these components form a closed-loop system that links detection, sensory restoration, and greater control. The research will validate the ability to evoke physiologically meaningful sensation of distension, confirm selective neural engagement, and demonstrate coordinated operation with critical stimulation. Anticipated results include reliable detection, restoration of awareness, and user-initiated control, establishing the technical foundation for a new neuroprosthetic treatment. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.