Using cold technology to relieve pain after knee surgery
Official title: Neural Ice Technology for Treatment of Pain
Funded at Brixton Biosciences, INC. · NIH-11006862 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to help people manage pain after knee surgery without using opioids, by using a special freezing technique on certain nerves to provide lasting relief, making it easier and safer for patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brixton Biosciences, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 21, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $998,787 |
| NIH project number | 1R44AR084998-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11006862 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty due to severe osteoarthritis or rheumatic arthritis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing knee surgery or those with contraindications to cryoneurolysis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new method to manage pain following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) without relying on opioids. The approach involves a technique called cryoneurolysis, which uses very low temperatures to freeze specific nerves, providing long-lasting pain relief. The goal is to create an injectable version of this treatment that is easier to administer and more effective than current methods. By reducing the need for opioid medications, this research aims to address the growing opioid crisis while improving patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a safe, effective, and non-opioid method for managing postoperative pain in knee surgery patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using cryoneurolysis for pain management, indicating potential success for this novel injectable approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Brixton Biosciences, INC.
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sidoti, Charles — Brixton Biosciences, INC.
- Study coordinator: Sidoti, Charles
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Injectable nerve-freezing treatment to ease knee replacement pain
An injectable, long-lasting, drug-free nerve-freezing treatment to reduce pain after total knee replacement for adults.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.