Autonomic Technologies

About Autonomic Technologies

Autonomic Technologies, Inc. (ATI), established in 2007 as a spin-out from the Cleveland Clinic, was a medical device company centered on developing treatments for severe headaches. The company's operations were based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with additional offices in Germany. The core of ATI's business was the Pulsante® SPG Microstimulator System, a device designed to alleviate the intense pain of cluster headaches and migraines. The technology was pioneered by individuals including Dr. Frank Papay at the Cleveland Clinic, whose work in facial and skull anatomy contributed to the device's development.

The Pulsante system represents a distinct approach to pain management. It involves a minimally invasive surgical procedure to implant a small, battery-less neurostimulator—smaller than an almond—into the patient's upper gum. This implant targets the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a nerve bundle known to be a crucial mediator of severe headaches. When a patient perceives the onset of a headache, they can place a handheld remote controller on their cheek over the implant area. The remote wirelessly powers and activates the device, which then sends targeted electrical stimulation to the SPG to block the transmission of pain signals.

Throughout its history, Autonomic Technologies achieved significant regulatory milestones, obtaining the CE mark in Europe for the treatment of cluster headaches in 2012 and later expanding that indication to include disabling migraines in 2017. The company was venture-backed, securing multiple rounds of funding from investors such as Kleiner Perkins, InterWest Partners, and Novartis Venture Fund to support clinical trials in the U.S. and commercialization in Europe. Leadership at the company included former President and CEO Ben Pless, an experienced figure in the medical device industry, and later Niamh Pellegrini, who also served as President and CEO.

In a significant transition for the technology, the intellectual property of Autonomic Technologies was acquired in 2020 by Unity HA. Unity HA was founded by Dr. Peter Bonutti, a prolific inventor and orthopedic surgeon with extensive experience in medical product development. Following the acquisition, Unity HA was renamed Realeve, which continues to advance the Pulsante system for the treatment of central nervous system disorders.