According to the American Stroke Association, there are over 5.7 million stroke survivors in the United States, of whom approximately half suffer from hand or arm motor impairment. Following a stroke, the typical treatment for patients with hemiparesis is rehabilitative therapy. Unfortunately, many patients do not achieve satisfactory functional improvement from rehabilitative therapy alone.

There is considerable evidence that the brain can undergo significant reorganization after an injury such as a stroke by a process termed neuroplasticity, a natural process by which existing neurons and alternate neural pathways in remaining healthy brain tissue assume some of the capabilities previously controlled by the parts of the brain damaged by a stroke. Within hours after a stroke, the brain will begin to recruit existing alternative neural pathways in an attempt to meet functional demands. However, natural gains in motor recovery and speech generally plateau within several months after a stroke, with many stroke survivors achieving only minimal recovery of function. Most patients today do not receive post-stroke rehabilitation beyond an initial period; instead, they must live with and adapt to their disabilities. These disabilities impact their quality of life and their ability to perform many basic daily tasks.

Northstar Neuroscience has developed the Renova-ST™ Cortical Stimulation System intended to enhance neuroplasticity and recovery of function in stroke survivors who suffer from hemiparesis. Our initial research, including two clinical feasibility studies, has shown that cortical stimulation, in conjunction with intensive rehabilitative therapy, may meaningfully enhance function beyond natural recovery, even in stroke survivors who receive cortical stimulation therapy several years after their strokes.

*Caution: Investigational device. Limited by Federal (or U.S.) law to investigational use.