Milestone Scientific Inc (NYSEAMERICAN:MLSS) announced Wednesday it has received a Notice of Allowance from the European Patent Office as the company seeks to develop a device for ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block (PNB) procedures.
The patent office’s decision allows for the company to combine minimum intensity of nerve stimulation (MIS) and real-time injection pressure (IP) monitoring by utilizing Milestone’s CompuFlo instrument and associated DPS Dynamic Pressure Sensing Technology to optimize needle tip location in PNB procedures.
The company said the technology was developed in conjunction with Dr Olivier Choquet from the Lapeyronie University Hospital in Montpellier, France, a renowned expert in peripheral nerve block procedures, and Dr Mark Hochman, inventor and clinical director for Milestone Scientific.
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“This is an important event, as receiving this notice-of-allowance from the European Patent Office clears an important hurdle as we seek to develop a device specifically for PNB procedures, which will incorporate the CompuFlo with Dynamic Pressure Sensing Technology capabilities of precisely measuring, displaying, controlling, warning and recording needle tip pressure in real time,” said Arjan Haverhals, president of Milestone Scientific, in a statement.
"The optimization of a device specifically for procedures that also integrates this new technology, we believe will help reduce the risk of needle injury during PNB procedures. By combining CompuFlo with ultrasound guidance and MIS, we believe we will achieve unparalleled multimodal PNB monitoring, safety and greater accuracy to identify needle tip location during PNB procedures."
Haverhals added: We view this as an attractive market for our technology as PNBs are increasingly utilized in the treatment of trauma and surgical procedures, including orthopedic surgeries as well as for postoperative and nonsurgical analgesia. In addition to Europe, we have applied for similar patents in the United States, as we remain focused on building our IP portfolio across numerous indications and around the world.”
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