Trumbull-based ZetrOZ Inc. has been awarded federal and state grants to develop wearable sustained acoustic medicine ”“ so-called SAM ultrasound technology ”“ and clinically evaluate the effectiveness of the noninvasive, self-applied treatment for management of lower back pain and pain caused by herniated discs of the spine.
A $250,000 grant is from the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, which works with NASA under a cooperative agreement to develop and mature novel medical technologies that can benefit the health of crew members in space as well as people on Earth. Long space trips can lead to extensive back woes, including spinal lengthening.
The state”™s business incubator Connecticut Innovations supported $250,000 in grant funding for the project with the stated goal “to increase innovative biotechnology jobs and manufacturing in Connecticut.”
Another $125,000 has been earmarked in-house by ZetrOZ Inc. for support of the project.
In an April interview with the Business Journal, George K. Lewis Jr., company co-founder, chief scientific and technology officer and principal investigator for the grants, said, “Our OZ Inside highly efficient, lightweight and miniaturized ultrasound technology platform is a perfect fit for space flight and long-range NASA missions since it can be powered from low-voltage battery packs and easily recharged from solar cells ”“ this also makes it great for ”˜citizens of Earth.”™”
The specific aim of this study is to optimize SAM therapy frequency and treatment dose for potential future use in astronauts who experience back pain as their spines elongate up to 2 inches while in the microgravity environment of space. The ZetrOZ technology platform, in the company”™s words, “enables delivery of therapeutic ultrasound treatment to modulate pain and inflammation in tissue for up to four hours daily.”
The clinical research portion of the project will kick off in early 2015 in Connecticut, Ohio and Utah, involving 100 to 200 study participants suffering from lower back pain. The ZetrOZ research and development team is gearing up for the work by modifying the current SAM product, cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, to include higher ultrasound intensity and modified therapeutic treatment regimens for targeting the herniated intravertebral disks of the spine.
“ZetrOZ continues to be on the cutting edge of wearable technology and pain therapy,” said David Wurzer, executive vice president and chief investment officer of Connecticut Innovations, which was begun by legislative act in 1989. “And we are gratified to be part of this latest innovative study to hopefully improve the lives of our nation”™s astronauts and work on development of other helpful new technologies as well.”
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