A research team led by UC San Diego has developed a wearable, non-invasive device that can measure activity in human cervical nerves in clinical settings. This device records Autonomic Neurography (ANG), neural activity from the human vagus and carotid sinus nerves, as well as other autonomic nerves in the neck. The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in the body’s inflammatory response to injury or infection and has been studied in conditions like sepsis and post-traumatic stress disorder. The team aims to provide medical professionals with a tool for detecting levels of activity in the involuntary nervous system, offering an early warning sign of stress.
The flexible, adhesive-integrated electrode array has shown promising results in detecting deep neural activity in a simulated clinical hyperinflammatory model. The device is designed to offer real-time monitoring of neural signaling indicative of impending sepsis, providing an early diagnostic marker of pathogen infection or inflammation. The senior author of the study, Imanuel Lerman, is optimistic about the potential of the device to help detect sepsis early and is deploying it in the intensive care units of the Jacobs Medical Center at UC San Diego Health. The study’s first author, Troy Bu, is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Jacobs School.
The device leverages magnetoneurography to detect cervical nerve firing non-invasively in real-time, offering a more accurate alternative to surgically implanted microelectrodes. Researchers tested the device in nine adult human subjects by inducing a temporary hyperinflammatory state with bacteria-sourced toxins. The device was able to detect changes in nerve activity and the release of inflammatory proteins, as well as changes in heart rate. This technology can provide doctors with an early warning sign of hyperimmune or immunoparalysis response in sepsis, helping to initiate treatment promptly and increase the chances of survival.
Elevated levels of certain inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-10 are indicators of the body’s response to infection and inflammation. With sepsis, timely detection and treatment are crucial as the likelihood of death increases by up to seven percent every hour sepsis goes untreated. The device not only helps with early detection of sepsis but also aids in identifying subgroups of patients at higher risk of complications. Moreover, it may assist in monitoring the effectiveness of treatments, understanding the nervous system and inflammation in conditions like PTSD, and tailoring therapies to individual patients’ needs.
The study was a collaborative effort between UC San Diego, Sandia National Laboratories, University of Wisconsin-Madison, VA Center for Stress and Mental Health, Quspin Laboratory, Stanford University, and InflammaSense Inc. Funding for the research was provided by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the David and Janice Katz Neural Sensor Research Fund. The technology developed by the research team shows promise in revolutionizing the field of early disease detection and monitoring the body’s response to stress and inflammation in real-time. By providing medical professionals with a tool to detect warning signs of potential health issues, this device could significantly impact patient outcomes and improve overall healthcare practices.