Mechanomyography-based system for quantitative nerve assessment during standard pain management procedures

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded $353,059 to Neuralytix, LLC on August 7, 2026, under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) to develop a mechanomyography-based diagnostic system for quantitative nerve assessment during preoperative pain management procedures.

The recipient will establish measurement consistency and reliability of the mechanomyography diagnostic system (MMG-DS) across users and anatomical regions using a porcine model. The system aims to provide objective, functional measurements of nerve compression status and nerve function during therapeutic nerve blocks, transforming routine procedures into quantitative diagnostics. MMG-DS will measure the muscle's mechanical response post-nerve stimulus, contrasting with electromyography's electrical measurements. The technology targets the diagnostic uncertainty physicians face when imaging reveals multiple compressed nerve roots, addressing the qualitative limitations that contribute to suboptimal symptom resolution in approximately 35 percent of patients following decompression surgery.

Neuralytix is located in Brighton, Michigan. The award period runs from August 7, 2026, through July 31, 2027. The assistance type is a Project Grant, a mechanism supporting investigator-initiated biomedical research under NIGMS's mission to advance understanding of biological processes and disease diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract

Our ultimate objective is to develop a mechanomyography (MMG) based diagnostic system (MMG-DS) achieving quantitative assessment of nerve compression status during standard preoperative pain management procedures. Just as cardiac stress testing revolutionized coronary artery evaluation by adding functional data to anatomical findings, MMG-DS will transform routine therapeutic nerve blocks into a quantitative diagnostic by providing objective measurements of nerve function. MMG-DS feasibility will be demonstrated by establishing measurement consistency and reliability across users and anatomical regions in a porcine model. Prevalence of radiculopathy is ~10% for US adults. While physical therapy and medication (such as opioids) can provide relief, often a preoperative pain management procedure is required to provide temporary relief and guide a future decompression surgery. Also, imaging can reveal multiple compressed nerve roots and physicians then face significant diagnostic uncertainty in determining which specific nerves require surgical intervention. Therefore, current diagnostic capabilities are limited by their qualitative nature, which in part contributes to suboptimal symptom resolution in up to ~35% of patients following decompression surgery. MMG-DS will achieve a quantitative diagnostic by building on validated MMG technology that reliably detects nerve responses. MMG-DS will enable objective measurements during preoperative pain management procedures that patients are already undergoing. Therefore, MMG-DS creates an unprecedented opportunity for evidence-based surgical planning without disrupting established clinical workflows. MMG-DS will achieve superior functional and quantitative nerve assessment because MMG measures the muscle's mechanical response post nerve stimulus. This is in sharp contrast to EMG, which measures the electrical response of the muscle. Therefore, limitations of EMG-electrical signal related noise and variability-are not present in MMG. In clinical application, MMG-DS will identify functionally compromised nerves most likely contributing to pain, enable quantitative and real-time functional assessment of nerve health, provide real-time assessment of nerve block treatment effectiveness, and enable surgeons to efficiently target unhealthy nerve(s) during decompression surgery, while avoiding unnecessary surgery on healthy nerves. The feasibility of MMG-DS will be demonstrated by prototyping the MMG-DS stimulation probe compatible with existing interventional pain management needles and evaluate performance on the bench top (aim 1), developing the MMG-DS data processing algorithm relating stimulation probe current levels to the MMG response (aim 2), and determining the variability and repeatability of MMG-DS derived parameters to quantitatively assess nerve function in the porcine model (aim 3). After completion of this sbir phase i project, phase II will complete all testing required for 510(k) clearance.