HEPIUS Lab

A Medical Device Design Innovation Hub for Spinal Cord Injury

Named after the Greek god of medicine and healing, the HEPIUS (Holistic Electrical, ultrasonic and Physiological Interventions Unburdening those with Spinal cord injury) team unites neurosurgeons, biomedical engineers, scientists, radiologists, and other physicians to treat and diagnose spinal cord injuries.

MUSIC Device Receives FDA Breakthrough Device Designation

The HEPIUS Innovation Laboratory is excited to announce that the FDA granted Breakthrough Device Designation for the Multi-function Spinal Cord Implant (MUSIC) device, which provides critical temporary ultrasound imaging during the acute recovery phase after spinal cord injury (SCI). Some 17,000 new cases of SCI are diagnosed annually in the US but current technologies are lacking in their ability to directly monitor the injury site.

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Facilities and Resources

Clinical Ultrasound Imaging Systems

In order to assist in the design of our custom ultrasound probes, the HEPIUS center is equipped with ultrasound imaging systems commonly found in clinical settings. Some of our specific systems allow us to power and control custom ultrasound transducers for use in grayscale, color doppler and spectral doppler imaging modes.

Therapeutic Ultrasound: Neuromodulation

The lab will use low-intensity, focused ultrasound neuromodulation equipment to aid in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. This equipment can target precise regions of the central nervous system and be programmed to continually treat the same region of the central nervous system across several days.

Therapeutic Ultrasound: Thermal Ablation

Therapeutic ultrasound can also be used in minimally invasive, high-intensity, focused applications to thermally ablate tissues, including brain tumors. We can monitor the ablation separately with different equipment that can create MRI images.

Acoustic Simulations and Pressure Field Mapping

As part of the design process for our various ultrasonic transducers, we employ a combination of computer simulations and high-resolution experiments to determine the acoustic pressure fields generated by the devices. This includes the use of simulation software and equipment, including a needle hydrophone and a degassed water tank equipped with a 6-axis motorized positioner.

Fabrication Shop

Our fabrication shop has a state-of-the-art 3D printer, laser cutter, vinyl cutter and 3D scanner. Coupled with a fully equipped soldering and rework station and microscopy equipment, the HEPIUS lab can fabricate virtually anything.

Animal Models

Rodent studies can't always be translated to human use, especially in the field of spinal cord injury. Supported by a 24/7, on-site veterinary team, our lab will rely on porcine models, which are more similar to humans' anatomy, vasculature and immune response.

Mock ICU

Given our ultimate goal to be on the forefront of translational medicine, we're equipped with a fully stocked mock intensive care unit (ICU) to practice implementing our devices in tissue mimicking phantoms to ensure successful future use in patients.

Collaborators

Sonic Concepts, Inc. (Industry)
MCRA, LLC. (Industry)
Columbia University (Academia)
The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (Academia)

Funding

$13.48 million grant by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) Clinical Research Scholars Program (KL2) career development award

Make a Gift

Johns Hopkins has a long-standing tradition of delivering the best care and pushing the frontiers of discovery. The HEPIUS lab continues that legacy, developing new technologies to treat devastating spinal cord injuries. Our work is made possible with support from grateful patients and friends.

You can make a donation to the HEPIUS lab through our online form. To do so, designate your gift to Dr. Amir Manbachi's research.

Donate online

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