Marshall University and Marshall Health Network, in collaboration with Intermed Labs (IL), has launched a new medical technology development initiative focused on improving the precision and safety of deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures. The project, currently operating under the working name DBS Lead Lock, is in prototype development and represents a joint investment in clinician-driven innovation.
The concept for the device was developed by Heather Pinckard-Dover, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Marshall Health Network and Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. Drawing on her clinical experience performing DBS procedures, Pinckard-Dover recognized an opportunity to explore new approaches to securing stimulation leads during surgery.
Deep brain stimulation is a highly specialized neurosurgical procedure used to treat conditions such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and other neurological disorders. The procedure requires the placement of thin electrical leads into precise targets within the brain-often with millimeter-level accuracy.
While current systems are designed to stabilize DBS leads during placement, clinicians and engineers continue to study ways to refine these tools to further support surgical precision and efficiency. The DBS Lead Lock initiative is based on the hypothesis that improvements in lead fixation could help maintain positioning stability during the procedure while streamlining surgical workflow.
In neurosurgery, precision is everything. When placing a deep brain stimulation lead, even the smallest disruption can impact accuracy. After many discussions in the operating room about limitations of current fixation methods, it became clear there was an opportunity to rethink how we secure these leads in a way that supports both surgical efficiency and patient safety."
Heather Pinckard-Dover, M.D., neurosurgeon at Marshall Health Network and Associate Professor of Neurosurgery, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
The DBS Lead Lock project is currently in the prototype development phase, with initial builds underway in collaboration with the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC). The partnership brings together clinical insight, engineering expertise and commercialization strategy to translate frontline surgical challenges into scalable healthcare solutions.
"This project reflects exactly how innovation should happen, starting with a clinician who sees a problem firsthand and building around that insight," said Ashok Aggarwal, co-founder of Intermed Labs. "By partnering with Marshall Health Network and leveraging the capabilities of MAMC, we are creating a pathway to thoughtfully develop and evaluate a solution while protecting the integrity of the clinical concept."
Marshall University leadership emphasized the importance of aligning academic medicine, advanced manufacturing and venture development to accelerate innovation in West Virginia and beyond.
"Marshall University is proud to support collaborations that bridge clinical expertise with advanced manufacturing and entrepreneurial development," said Brad D. Smith, president of Marshall University. "This partnership demonstrates how our institutions can work together to transform ideas born in the operating room into technologies that have the potential to improve care far beyond our region."
The initiative underscores the shared commitment of Marshall University, Marshall Health Network and Intermed Labs to advancing surgical innovation through research, technology development, strategic investment and commercialization. While specific design details remain confidential during this early stage, the collaboration represents a significant step forward in building a pipeline of neurosurgical innovation rooted in real-world clinical needs.
Further updates will be shared as development progresses.
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