Development of an Integrated Neuronal Excitability Recording System Combining Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) and Microneurography

About Client

A leading hospital in the USA, part of a renowned healthcare system and affiliated with a prestigious medical university, recognized for excellence in patient care, research and innovation, with a dedicated Department of Neurology providing advanced therapies and modern technologies for comprehensive care of neurological disorders.

Client’s Challenge

The Bostock system used in research, consists of multiple separate units such as an amplifier, bi-phasic stimulator, data acquisition system and humbug. While effective, this system was:

Bulky and complex – requiring multiple units and complicated connections.
Difficult to operate – due to separate hardware modules and complex setup.
Limited in capability – existing systems could not perform both large fiber or Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) and small fiber (microneurography) studies within a single integrated platform, which is only meant for NCS.
Software dependency – reliant on the legacy QtracP and QtracS software, developed over 30 years of time and effort and supported only on Windows 7 and older versions.
The client required a single, integrated solution capable of:
Conducting both NCS and microneurography.
Offering configurable stimulation and recording features.
Replacing the legacy software protocols with a modern, reliable platform.

iOrbit Solution

We developed NEERS (Neuronal Electrical Excitability Recording System), an all-in-one solution integrating stimulation, amplification, data acquisition and filtering into a single compact device.

Key Highlights of NEERS:

Integrated System – replaced multiple Bostock components with one device.
Dual Capability – performs both large fiber (NCS) and small fiber (microneurography) studies.
Advanced Hardware Architecture – built with two powerful processors to handle simultaneous high-speed data acquisition, signal processing and real-time protocol execution.
Configurable Parameters – The system provides flexibility in adjusting current range, amplifier gain, and filter cut-off frequencies to suit diverse experimental and clinical needs.
Advanced Software Platform – An in-house software package was developed to replace QtracP and QtracS, successfully implementing the TRONDNF protocols including stimulus-response, strength-duration, recovery cycle and threshold electrotonus.
Backward Compatibility – NEERS hardware also offers the flexibility to work with Qtrac software if required, ensuring smooth adoption and validation for existing research workflows.
Clinical Relevance – results matched closely with Qtrac outputs, validating system performance.

iOrbit Scope

Development and integration of hardware modules through a completely new design, independent of the Bostock system.
Design of dual-processor architecture for configurable stimulation and recording.
Development of high-gain, low-noise amplifier system with flexible filtering.
Implementation of advanced neurophysiological protocols into custom-built software.
Validation against legacy systems through clinical testing.

Key Outcomes

Breakthrough Innovation: Delivered the first-of-its-kind prototype integrating nerve conduction studies (NCS) and microneurography in a single device.
Simplified System Architecture: Eliminated the need for multiple hardware units, reducing complexity and improving usability.
Modern Software Platform: Developed an independent, next-generation solution replacing decades-old QtracP/QtracS systems.
Clinically Validated: Successfully tested on hundreds of subjects with results comparable to gold-standard diagnostic systems.
Future-Ready & Scalable: Positioned for rapid progression into a market-ready clinical product with global applicability.

Accelerating Innovation: End-to-End Engineering from Concept to FDA-Cleared Wireless Patient Monitoring

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