Thurston Innovation Center

Support medical innovation and device development at Barrow.

Donate to Critical Medical Innovation

Recognizing the critical importance of innovation, Barrow neurosurgery residents established a training program that would provide all the necessary equipment, personnel, and resources to transform novel ideas into functional devices. Today, the Thurston Innovation Center is a leader in training future neurosurgical innovators while providing vital device-development services to departments throughout Barrow.

Since its inception in 2015, the Thurston Innovation Center has filed more than 120 provisional patents, described 10 surgical
procedures, and published more than 30 articles.

Medical Innovation Making a Global Impact

The Thurston Innovation Center addressed an unmet neurosurgical training need for developing countries when it sent 20 custom, 3D-printed skull models to Peru for a course on neurosurgical anatomy led by Barrow. As with most of Latin America, Peru does not have access to human cadavers for surgical simulation. Thus, the use of anatomically accurate 3D-printed models is a truly novel development that has the potential to steer the course of neurosurgical training in Latin America.

Innovative Resident Training Program

The Thurston Innovation Center is educating the next generation of inventors by eliminating barriers to the development of disruptive, new health care technologies. The potential for groundbreaking technologies is enormous, and it is a natural place for Barrow to lead.

Your Donations Fuel Groundbreaking Medical Innovation

Neurostimulator Device

With support from Barrow donors and the Flinn Foundation, neurosurgery resident Brandon Fox, MD, developed a novel device to measure a coma patient’s level of consciousness. The device uses electrical stimulation instead of the traditional method of manually applying painful stimuli. Dr. Fox recently received approval to begin clinical trials in the intensive care unit.

Shunt Flow Detector

Current methods of determining shunt failure are either inaccessible or invasive. This device will allow any hospital with access to an ultrasound system to detect shunt failure non-invasively and at a low cost.

Neurosurgical Cranial Models

Barrow residents brought fifteen 3D-printed cranial models developed in the Innovation Center to Indonesia to lead a neurosurgical training program. These cranial models have the potential to transform neurosurgery in countries like Indonesia, where there is limited access to cadavers for medical training.

Neurosurgical Anatomy Kits

The Innovation Center developed neurosurgical anatomy kits for incoming residents. These kits, which include a skull and three spinal segments, will allow new residents to enhance their understanding of neurosurgical techniques through hands-on learning.

Discover More Programs

At Barrow Neurological Foundation, your donation is crucial in supporting three key areas: advanced patient care, curative research, and education for the next generation of neuroscientists. Learn more about how your donation impacts each of the areas we treat.