The procedure was performed by Dr. Ajay Antony at The Orthopedic Institute in Gainesville, following an Investigational Device Exemption granted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The study aims to enroll up to 30 participants across various U.S. centers, targeting those who face frequent hospitalizations despite receiving maximal medical care. Spiro Medical’s system functions by stimulating spinal nerves to influence the autonomic pathways controlling bronchial tone.

While asthma is traditionally managed as an inflammatory condition, researchers believe neurological intervention could offer a breakthrough for the estimated 2.8 million Americans living with the severe form of the disease. Dr. Michael E. Wechsler of National Jewish Health, the study’s principal investigator, noted that the approach shifts the focus from conventional drug-based treatment to a targeted nervous system intervention. The company, which recently secured $67 million in Series A funding, is positioning this device as a potential alternative for patients who have exhausted traditional options.