Saving Hearts and Minds.
A computer-aided catheter for the improved treatment of cardiac arrest, the leading cause of death.*
Only one out of ten cardiac arrest victims survive today
Current solutions today do not reach high enough blood flows to resuscitate most patients. Neither do they buy enough time for more advanced treatments of the patient, such as heart-lung machine. Neurescue addresses this unmet need with next-generation medical technology.
Neurescue safeREBOA
safeREBOA
Neurescue safeREBOA is the first computer-aided aortic occlusion system that can be used safely with or without fluoroscopy when and where the patients need it. This enables for the verified, safe emergency redistribution of blood flow to the two most sensitive organs; the heart and brain.
Protecting The Brain
The brain is subject to decreased blood flow during a cardiac arrest, preventing time for advanced definitive treatments and leading to brain damage. Aortic occlusion during cardiac arrest increases the cerebral perfusion pressure with 200% as compared to standard treatment in the pig model. [1]
Supporting The Heart
Nine studies of aortic occlusion in models of cardiac arrest have shown substantial increases in both coronary artery flow and coronary perfusion pressure.[2] Coronary perfusion pressure is principal in achieving survival return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The higher the CPP, the higher the likelihood of achieving ROSC. [3]
The Procedure
Today the standard of care for treating cardiac arrest consists of: chest compressions, ventilation and defibrillation (despite the majority of patients being non-shockable when currently treated). The Neurescue safeREBOA device is complimentary to existing treatments as an adjunct to the patients who do not respond to defibrillation.
During on-going chest compressions, the largest blood vessel in the leg (the femoral artery) is accessed with a sheath. The Neurescue safeREBOA device is inserted through this sheath. The device ensures safe, automated inflation and aids with positioning feedback. The intention of this step is to increase the chance of immediate resuscitation by increasing the blood flow to the heart and to protect the brain by increasing the blood flow to the brain. Furthermore this step can bridge the patient to advanced care, such as bypass surgery or prolonged resuscitation with a heart-lung machine.
We are continuously looking for strategic and clinical partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
The Neurescue™ device works together with existing treatments. While we hope for defibrillators to become more commonly accessible, they do not work on patients when they are non-shockable. About 77% of patients do not respond to defibrillators when they are currently treated (EuReCa ONE, initial shockable rhythm). The Neurescue™ device aims to increase the survival by increasing the number of patients who respond to defibrillation by improving the circulation, and by protecting the brain throughout prolonged resuscitation (patients that are brought to definitive treatments under on-going chest compressions).
Inside hospitals: About half of all cardiac arrests occur inside hospitals with physicians qualified for this type of arterial access. It is intended for emergency personnel that has experience with other procedures that may be needed within minutes, such as intubation.
Outside hospitals: In Europe physicians respond to emergency situations outside of or en-route to the hospital. Approximately 40% of EU countries use prehospital physicians. In other countries, physicians and paramedics meet up en-route to the hospital or upon arrival. This varies from district to district, where systems are in place to ensure that time-critical procedures are delivered to emergency patients.
The complexity is comparable to procedures already performed by subgroups, such as intraosseous cannulation (emergency drilling into a bone to gain access to deliver drugs and fluids). The Neurescue device simplifies its procedure, which was the key to putting e.g. the defibrillator into the hands of paramedics. Our preliminary testing indicates that nurses and paramedics may be taught the procedure.
Portable ultrasound can aid in the needle puncture and increase confidence in achieving arterial access. We greatly encourage this development, as it may help with the manual part of the procedure.
*Neurescue is an experimental device and not approved for clinical use. © 2017 Neurescue. All rights reserved. Neurescue™ and safeREBOA™ are trademarks of Neurescue.
1 Sesma J, et al. Effect of intra-aortic occlusion balloon in external thoracic compressions during CPR in pigs. Am J Emerg Med 2002;20:453–62.
2 Daley J, et al. The role of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) as an adjunct to ACLS in non-traumatic cardiac arrest. Am J Emerg Med 2017;35.10.1016/j.ajem.2017.01.010.
3 Paradis N, et al. Coronary perfusion pressure and the return of spontaneous circulation in human cardiopulmonary resuscitation. JAMA 1990;263(8):1106–13.