A novel medical device for reducing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in the hands

We have invented a new and disruptive technology that can mitigate a common dose-limiting and/or debilitating side-effect of chemotherapy. We want to optimise this technology, embed it into a wearable product, and put it in/on the hands of cancer patients.



Context & Need

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a form of nerve damage caused by chemotherapy drugs - it often starts in the hands and feet and causes pain, loss of function and visible damage. Depending on the type of chemotherapy, 30-90% (Beijers et al. 2012, Maihöfner et al. 2021) of patients will suffer from CIPN and its side effects. Given that the number of UK cancer survivors is set to increase from 3 million today to roughly 4 million by 2030 (Macmillian Cancer Support, 2022), the impact of CIPN will continue to grow.

There are currently no effective treatments to prevent or reduce CIPN, and symptoms get worse as chemotherapy treatment progresses. This means that patients are often forced to stop their treatment, reducing the likelihood of their cancer being cured. Moreover, even if chemotherapy is successful, one in four cancer survivors suffer disabilities resulting from the side effects of chemotherapy, among which CIPN is dominant (Macmillian Cancer Support, 2022).The needs of chemotherapy patients are not being adequately met.

Current solutions involve cooling of the skin, and/or compression of the hands and feet. They're effective to some extent, but their working principles need to be better understood. Crucially however, these approaches are not well-tolerated: they can be heavy, restrictive and generally uncomfortable. Their cold temperatures and pressure can cause pain and damage themselves, sometimes even frostbite. Furthermore, these technologies can be cumbersome to manage, meaning they are difficult for cancer care staff to use and support. These challenges significantly limit the uptake of these solutions. For the millions of people who could benefit from the prevention of CIPN, many won't—because these solutions create too much discomfort and can't be sustained. Our solution can do better.



Proposed Solution (Potential Application & Benefits)

We have discovered a way to reduce peripheral blood-flow during chemotherapy using targeted electrical stimulation. Reducing blood-flow will lower the amount of toxic chemotherapy drugs available for absorption by the nerve-endings in the fingertips and toes, therefore, protecting the peripheral nerves.

We plan to create the 'Stim-mitts' (working product name); a medical device that can transform the experience and outcomes of cancer patients and survivors, who have undergone or will undergo chemotherapy. Uniquely, the Stim-mitts work quietly, affordably and without restricting hand movements—meaning that patients undergoing chemotherapy for hours or days are not bound helplessly to what are essentially arm restraints. This product stands to benefit an additional 10 million patients per year worldwide, and the impact of its use would be felt during chemotherapy and for the rest of their lives.