Overview

Through interdisciplinary research (Devin K. Binder, neurosurgeon) over the past years, we have been developing a novel approach for the treatment of severe cerebral edema called direct osmotherapy ( US Patent 10420918 with title “Compositions and Methods for Reducing Traumatic Edema of the Central Nervous System”, Issued 9-24-2019). We are also working on a related medical device for the treatment of spinal cord edema (“Compositions and Methods for Reducing Traumatic Edema from Severe Spinal Cord Injury” Provisional U. S. Patent Application, Serial No.:  63/009949, Electronic Submission Date:  April 14, 2020, Reference No.:  2020-218). Direct osmotherapy employs a highly flexible and light osmotic transport device (OTD) that gently rests on the exposed cerebral or spinal cord tissue.

Direct osmotherapy uses osmotic pressure to operate and; 1) removes water from tissue in a controlled fashion; (2) has the flexibility for deployment on the surface of the brain or spinal cord; (3) does not require brain or spinal cord tissue penetration; and (4) does not do any harm to the underlying tissue. In addition, the OTD has been shown to reduce cerebral edema in mice (ipsilateral to injury) with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) induced via controlled cortical impact. 

Related Publications

Hale CS, Yonan JM, Batarseh R, Chaar R, Jonak CR, Binder DK, Rodgers VGJ (2020) Implantable Osmotic Transport Device Can Reduce Edema After Severe Contusion Spinal Cord Injury, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology: Biomechanics, Vol. 8, Page 806, DOI https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2020.00806.

Hale CS, Bhakta HC, Jonak CR, Yonan JM, Binder DK, Grover WH, Rodgers VGJ (2019) Differential densimetry: a method for determining ultra-low fluid flux and tissue permeability, AIP Advances 9 (9), 095063.

McBride D, Donovan V, Hsu MS, Obenaus A, Rodgers VGJ, Binder DK (2016) Reduction of Cerebral Edema via an Osmotic Transport Device Improves Functional Outcome after Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice, Brain Edema XVI, pp. 285-289. Springer International Publishing.

McBride DW, Szu JI, Hale C, Hsu MS, Rodgers VGJ, Binder DK (2014) Reduction of Cerebral Edema Following TBI using an Osmotic Transport Device, Journal of Neurotrauma, doi:10.1089/neu.2014.3439.

Rodgers VGJ, Binder DK, M^cBride DW, Hsu MS, Park BH, (Published May 9, 2013) US Patent 20,130,115,267, with title “Compositions and Methods for Reducing Cerebral Edema”.

McBride D, Hsu MS, Rodgers VGJ, Binder DK (2012) Improved Survival Following Cerebral Edema Using a Novel Hollow Fiber-Hydrogel Device, Journal of Neurosurgery, 10.3171/2012.2.JNS111540.