Highland Instruments
Highland Instruments develops the ESStim™ System, a noninvasive neuromodulation platform that combines transcranial ultrasound with transcranial direct current stimulation to focus and amplify therapeutic brain currents. The technology has demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials for chronic pain and Parkinson's disease, and is currently under investigation for opioid use disorder. The platform integrates AI, imaging, and wearable sensors to support treatment delivery.
- Artificial Intelligence
- Digital Health
- Hardware
- Healthcare Technology
- Medical Devices
- Software Only
Funding
Founders
Product
Problem
Chronic pain, Parkinson's disease, and opioid use disorder affect millions of patients worldwide, yet many existing treatments rely on invasive procedures, pharmaceuticals with significant side effects, or technologies with limited ability to target deep brain structures precisely. Noninvasive brain stimulation modalities such as transcranial direct current stimulation alone suffer from poor spatial resolution and insufficient penetration, reducing therapeutic efficacy.
Solution
Highland Instruments offers the ESStim™ System, a noninvasive neurostimulation platform that couples transcranial ultrasound (TUS) with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to focus, amplify, and steer applied currents within neural tissue. By combining independently controlled electromagnetic and ultrasonic fields, the technology overcomes the limitations of conventional noninvasive stimulation, enabling targeted modulation of brain centers involved in pain, motor function, and addiction. The system has been successfully implemented in clinical trials for chronic pain and Parkinson's disease, with ongoing investigation for opioid use disorder. The platform integrates artificial intelligence, imaging, wearable sensors, and human movement kinematics to support treatment planning and delivery, offering a drug-free, noninvasive therapeutic alternative for patients and clinicians.
Target Audience
Primary customers include clinical researchers, neurologists, pain specialists, and addiction medicine providers seeking noninvasive neuromodulation tools for treatment-resistant chronic pain, Parkinson's disease motor symptoms, and opioid use disorder.
Features
- Patented ElectroSonic Stimulation (ESStim™) technology combining transcranial ultrasound and transcranial direct current stimulation for focused, amplified neural targeting
- Independently controlled electromagnetic and ultrasonic fields that enable steering of currents to specific brain regions
- Clinical validation in chronic pain and Parkinson's disease trials, with active investigation for opioid use disorder
- Integrated artificial intelligence, imaging, wearable sensor, and human movement kinematics technologies supporting the stimulation platform
- Adaptable targeting of pain centers, motor centers, and addiction-related brain regions for multiple therapeutic indications