Renishaw’s 3D printed device delivers successful clinical trials for Parkinson’s

Global engineering company and 3D printer manufacturer, Renishaw, has developed a drug delivery system that could change treatment of neurodegenerative, and other debilitating neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is caused by the break-down of dopamine producing neurons in the brain, which leads to involuntary shaking, stiffness of muscles, slowing down of movement and other non-motor symptoms such as memory loss and depression.

Whilst these symptoms can initially be managed with medication, there is currently no treatment available that effectively prevents disease progression, or that treats the motor and non-motor symptoms together. Renishaw’s neuroinfuse™ drug delivery system seeks to provide treatment for Parkinson’s. After the completion of the main part of a clinical trial, the company is positive that their device can play a critical role in treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

Credits: Chris Marshall Mint Motion

More precisely, it’s intraparenchymal drug delivery offers a practical method of bypassing the blood-brain barrier to deliver drugs to the brain. The device is made up of up to 4 catheters, which can be implanted into target areas within the brain. The catheters are accessed via a 3D printed titanium transcutaneous port implanted behind the patient’s ear, and drug-filled infusion lines are connected using an MRI compatible application set, which repeatedly locates onto the port. Retractable needles extend through a septum in the port to enable therapeutics in the external infusion lines to be infused through the implanted catheters.