The objective of this Phase II STTR grant application is to continue the R/R&D efforts initiated in Phase I. The long-term objective for Arrhythmotech is to develop and market an instrument for the simultaneous recording of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and electrocardiogram (ECG) using electrodes on the skin. This method (neuECG) was discovered in Dr. Chen's research laboratory at the Krannert Institute of Cardiology, and a patent application has been filed by Indiana University. Arrhythmotech LLC was founded to further advance this concept, and we propose that neuECG will have significant commercial value by providing a new tool for arrhythmia prediction and detection. Significant progress has been made with the Phase I STTR funding. Phase II will expand the clinical research to firmly validate the neuECG as a method to estimate cardiac sympathetic tone, and to develop and test prototypes that can be used for future clinical investigations, while laying th groundwork for Phase III commercialization of the first application. Sympathetic tone is important in cardiac arrhythmogenesis. However, the existing method of SNA measurement is either invasive or not accurate. We have therefore developed methods to directly record SNA from either subcutaneous tissues or on the surface of the skin in canine models. We found that both subcutaneous nerve activity (SCNA) and superficial skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) closely correlate with stellate ganglia nerve activity (SGNA) in ambulatory dogs. With the generous support of a Phase I STTR grant, we were able to obtain preliminary results in human patients that strongly suggest the validity of SKNA in estimating sympathetic tone. We have successfully developed prototypes that can be used for long-term SKNA recording. We will pursue the following Specific Aims.
Specific Aim 1 : Unequivocally validate SKNA as a highly accurate non-invasive measure of skin SNA with simultaneous microelectrode recordings. These studies will be performed by Dr. Ronald Victor of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Specific Aim 2 : To test the hypothesis that lidocaine injection into the stellate ganglion or surgical stellectomy will reduce or eliminate the SKNA recorded from the arms. These studies will be done by Dr. Yong-Mei Cha of the Mayo Clinic. In addition to validating SKNA as a measure of skin SNA, these studies may also lead to commercial applications by providing a tool to measure the success of neuromodulation procedures.
Specific Aim 3 : Demonstrate that SKNA as measured by neuECG can serve as a novel biomarker for testing atrial fibrillation vulnerability. These studies will be done at Indiana University. Our preliminary results indicate that specific SKNA patterns are closely associated with the spontaneous occurrence of paroxysmal AF. Those specific patterns can be considered as novel biomarkers that are useful in arrhythmia management, such as guiding radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures and predict the long term success of these procedures. Successful completion of these 3 specific aims will give Arrhythmotech, LLC an excellent platform for future commercial applications.

Public Health Relevance

The purpose of this STTR Phase II application is to unequivocally validate skin sympathetic nerve activity as a highly accurate non-invasive measure of sympathetic tone. Because sympathetic tone is important in the pathogenesis of diseases, the ability to non-invasively measure sympathetic tone from the skin is highly clinically significant.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants - Phase II (R42)
Project #
5R42DA043391-03
Application #
9308936
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Bough, Kristopher J
Project Start
2014-09-01
Project End
2019-06-30
Budget Start
2017-07-01
Budget End
2019-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Arrhythmotech, LLC
Department
Type
DUNS #
078393367
City
Indianapolis
State
IN
Country
United States
Zip Code
46202
Jiang, Zhaolei; Zhao, Ye; Tsai, Wei-Chung et al. (2018) Effects of Vagal Nerve Stimulation on Ganglionated Plexi Nerve Activity and Ventricular Rate in Ambulatory Dogs With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. JACC Clin Electrophysiol 4:1106-1114
Yin, Dechun; Chen, Mu; Yang, Na et al. (2018) Role of apamin-sensitive small conductance calcium-activated potassium currents in long-term cardiac memory in rabbits. Heart Rhythm 15:761-769
Chen, Mu; Xu, Dong-Zhu; Wu, Adonis Z et al. (2018) Concomitant SK current activation and sodium current inhibition cause J wave syndrome. JCI Insight 3:
Yuan, Yuan; Jiang, Zhaolei; Zhao, Ye et al. (2018) Long-term intermittent high-amplitude subcutaneous nerve stimulation reduces sympathetic tone in ambulatory dogs. Heart Rhythm 15:451-459
Shelton, Richard S; Ogawa, Masahiro; Lin, Hongbo et al. (2018) Effects of Stellate Ganglion Cryoablation on Subcutaneous Nerve Activity and Atrial Tachyarrhythmias in a Canine Model of Pacing-Induced Heart Failure. JACC Clin Electrophysiol 4:686-695
Zhao, Ye; Yuan, Yuan; Tsai, Wei-Chung et al. (2018) Antiarrhythmic effects of stimulating the left dorsal branch of the thoracic nerve in a canine model of paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmias. Heart Rhythm 15:1242-1251
Tsai, Wei-Chung; Chan, Yi-Hsin; Chinda, Kroekkiat et al. (2017) Effects of renal sympathetic denervation on the stellate ganglion and brain stem in dogs. Heart Rhythm 14:255-262
Yuan, Yuan; Hassel, Jonathan L; Doytchinova, Anisiia et al. (2017) Left cervical vagal nerve stimulation reduces skin sympathetic nerve activity in patients with drug resistant epilepsy. Heart Rhythm 14:1771-1778
Shen, Mark J; Coffey, Arthur C; Straka, Susan et al. (2017) Simultaneous recordings of intrinsic cardiac nerve activity and skin sympathetic nerve activity from human patients during the postoperative period. Heart Rhythm 14:1587-1593
Everett 4th, Thomas H; Doytchinova, Anisiia; Cha, Yong-Mei et al. (2017) Recording sympathetic nerve activity from the skin. Trends Cardiovasc Med 27:463-472

Showing the most recent 10 out of 14 publications