We unlock the power of neuroscience to ease suffering and enhance human potential. We’re on a mission to transform the way the world treats neurological problems with effective, accessible and non-pharmaceutical solutions that harness the latest in science, technology, engineering and big data.
DESIGN
TECHNOLOGY
POTENTIAL
AXON
Our proprietary Axon system employs electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback and combines miniaturised technology, Cloud-based AI and consumer-friendly apps to enable patients to self-treat pain and other neurological conditions at home or in a professional setting. Axon works by monitoring brain activity and then helping the patient retrain their brain to interpret nerve signals in a different way.
Research
Exsurgo is rapidly expanding the global database of quality clinical trials and studies to confirm the effectiveness of its technologies for a range of neurologically-related conditions, prior to commercial rollout.
RECENT NEWS
Chronic neuropathic pain after surgery is a significant clinical problem (Borsook et al 2013). People with this pain condition may experience shooting, burning pain, numbness or pins and needles, or hypersensitivity to pain. The pain may be constant or may occur intermittently. Unlike most other types of pain, neuropathic pain does not usually get better with common painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Other medicines commonly used include anti-depressants and anti-convulsant.
Two patients with chronic neuropathic pain following back operations successfully used the Axon intervention to reduce pain and increasing mobility.
A whanau-focused opioid tapering intervention for people with chronic pain has received a $1.4 million research grant to produce a series of digital videos aimed at curbing opioid addiction. With one in every five New Zealanders experiencing chronic non-cancer pain including Māori who face the greatest burden, the series will share personal stories from Māori patients who have struggled with a dependency on prescription opioids. It’s their hope that patients who view the videos may be more open to speaking with their clinician and consider opioid tapering for themselves.
NZ Doctor urges people to remember the lonely this holiday season, as studies show the intersection of depression, dementia and loneliness is a significant risk for older people, particularly men. The main risk factors to be aware of in general practice are physical illness and functional impairment. However, not all risks are visible and an eagle eye is needed to recognise these factors. Read more below on the risk factors and the significance of being aware, being in touch, and providing opportunities for older people to open up about the daily challenges they face.
Auckland psychiatrist Dr Alexa Srzich says that while there is still research to be done into how hypnotherapy affects a person’s brain, they urge people to not dismiss the practice. Hypnotherapy may conjure thoughts of a swinging watch and feeling suddenly sleepy, but the practice can be helpful in managing health conditions like chronic pain or anxiety, and can aid in treating debilitating addictions. Clinical psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland explains that once your attention is focused on a particular thing, you are much more open to receiving suggestions that lead to changes in behaviour, thinking or sensations. ”If you believe that hypnosis will help reduce your chronic pain then you’re much more open to hypnotic suggestions about this.”
With exciting announcements around our largest Axon clinical trial to date on the horizon, Exsurgo is proud to be recognised in Idealog’s latest article featuring key tech companies to keep an eye on this year. “Heading into 2023, Exsurgo is continuing to pioneer the neuro technology space as the new year marks a “significant” step toward “large-scale commercialisation” of its product, Axon.” Featured alongside payment platform Dolla, sustainable internet provider Zeronet, and start-up technology company Partly, our CEO Richard Little discusses breakthroughs in the healthcare industry and how 2023 will be a pivotal year for Exsurgo as we edge closer to making Axon accessible to millions of chronic pain sufferers around the world.
In a display of incredible Kiwi ingenuity, researchers at Cawthron Institute in Nelson are using algae to produce non-addictive alternatives to opioids for long-term pain relief. The team developed a method for producing a shellfish toxin called "neosaxitoxin" which is found in marine microalgae. Initial clinical trials in the United States and Europe have shown incredible results for patients following many types of surgery and for treating severe local pain.
We all have an innate desire to play games, obtain awards and avoid punishment. Researchers are tapping into this desire to design new treatment methods that can improve our lifestyles, treat health conditions and prevent illnesses and disabilities. Swipe to learn how we're combining miniaturised technology with consumer-friendly apps and games (developed with neuroscience) to treat chronic pain and other neurological conditions.
Have you ever wondered why pain can make us lose our appetite? Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have traced the brain mechanisms behind pain-related appetite loss by monitoring the brain activity of two groups of mice: those injected with bacteria provoking chronic pain, and the other with saline. In the mice experiencing chronic pain (and less frequent eating), researchers found activity in the mice's anterior cingulate cortex - a pain-processing region of the brain in the prefrontal cortex. These signals then led to the lateral hypothalamic area, also known as the brain's 'feeding centre'. Researchers confidently predict this circuit in mice could be the same in humans, taking us one step closer to developing more efficient pain treatment.
We're excited to announce that we're launching a new study using EEG neurofeedback as a therapy to manage chronic pain in the United Kingdom. The trial will be led by researchers from the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust. Researchers are currently recruiting for 10 patients who, over a 22 week period, will wear our Axon EEG headset for 30 minutes per day and learn to 'retrain' how their brain perceives and responds to pain. If you are interested and would like more information on how to take part, please contact Dr Mohamed Sakel (Chief Investigator) at msakel@nhs.net.
For most of us, the holiday season can be a stressful time. Unfortunately, it's also a difficult time for people struggling with chronic pain as the added holiday stress can trigger a flare of symptoms and exhaustion. If you struggle with chronic pain, try out some of our tips below to make the holiday season as joyous and pleasant as possible.
Philosopher Kieran Setiya reflects on his personal experience with chronic pelvis pain and dives into the philosophy of why chronic pain hurts so much. Pain, as Kieran describes it, disrupts our perception of time. "Although I am not always in notable pain, I'm never aware of pain's onset or relief. By the time it has vanished from the radar of attention, it has been quiet for a while. When the pain is unignorable, it seems like it's been there forever and will never go away." While we know that we were once not in pain, the idea of a painless future feels unimaginable. To help manage the feeling of pain, Setiya encourages us to focus on the present and treat pain as a series of short episodes, to diminish its power.
In our latest newsletter, we shared the exciting news that our final trialist has completed the Active Neurofeedback Treatment phase of the New Zealand Axon trial, in partnership with Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and Waitematā District Health Board (WDHB). We look forward to sharing the results from our trial in the near future but in the meantime, get up to speed on the latest news and updates from across the business by reading the newsletter and subscribing to our mailing list.
Whether its smoking, drinking, eating unhealthy food or even mindlessly scrolling through social media, people can't resist a quick hit of pleasure - despite knowing the long-term consequences. While this motivation for reward can be bad for our health, it can also be used to help people improve their lifestyles and overall wellbeing. In our latest blog post, we explore how the gamification of healthcare is gaining momentum as an effective approach for treating chronic pain, including our Axon device which can retrain a patient’s brain through visual cues and all without the use of pharmaceutical treatments. Follow the link below to read the full article.
