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99 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
phone:650 585-5301
fax:650 327-7536
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| Symbol |
Private |
| Founded |
2001 |
| Employees |
15 |
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| www.omneuron.com
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| Research Sector |
Medical Devices & Tech |
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| Summary Description |
| Real-time Functional MRI Technology to Modify Cognitive Perception and Treat Chronic Pain |
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| Management |
| Christopher deCharms, M.D., President and CEO |
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| Keywords |
| imaging, neurology, psychiatry, brain, pain, chronic pain, fMRI, functional MRI, addiction, depression |
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| Description |
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Omneuron is a life sciences company focusing on novel MRI technologies. It is developing applications of functional neuroimaging, including non-invasive technology to measure and direct brain function in real time. |
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| Products / Services |
Superficially similar to an older technology, electroencephalogram biofeedback, which measures electrical feedback across multiple areas of the brain, fMRI feedback measures the blood flow in precise areas of the brain in real time. This technology can shed insight on the particular regions involved in processing different feelings or tasks. Omneuron is currently evaluating activity in the region of the brain involved in mediating awareness of pain, the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), and developing cognitive tools enabling patients to consciously control their perceptions of pain.
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| Technology / Differentiation |
| Omneuron's chronic pain study patients are exposed to a novel form of cognitive training for controlling pain. Participants are scanned using functional MRI while they employ cognitive strategies allowing the participant to view and mediate their brain activity. A clinical trial session proceeds as follows: A patient slides into the coffin-like scanner and watches a computer-generated flame projected on the screen of virtual-reality goggles. The flame's intensity reflects the neural activity of regions of the brain involved in the perception of pain. Using a variety of mental techniques (for instance, imagining that a painful area is being flooded with soothing chemicals) most people can make the flame wane with little concentration; a waning flame indicates that the patient is feeling better. |
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| Market / Customers |
At least $80 billion dollars is spent for pain relief in the United States each year, a significant amount allocated for prescription medications with short-lived relief and/or a high potential for addiction. The company's technology will be available in the clinical and research domains.
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| Status |
| In addition to conducting its smoking cessation and chronic pain clinical trials, Omneuron is also researching treatments for addiction, depression and other psychological illnesses. The company is also investigating the use of fMRI in improving athletic performance. Omneuron's use of real-time functional MRI technology for pain management has been published in leading scientific journals (PNAS) and featured in the mainstream press (NY Times). The company is in the process of commercializing its technology. |
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