Dr. Pedro Rocha-Flores Presents at NANS 2026 Annual Meeting
- backstopneural
- Feb 2
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 2
January 30, 2026 – Backstop Neural team members attended the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) 2026 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas where Pedro Rocha-Flores, PhD, VP of Engineering, presented new preclinical findings on a thin cervical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) paddle lead designed to support standard surgical techniques while improving in situ conformability and stability.
Backstop Neural showcased this work, supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) under award number 1R43NS135863-01A1, as both a paper poster and ePoster, titled “Surgical Handling, Stability, and Biocompatibility of a Thin, Conformal Cervical SCS Paddle Lead.” The presentation generated strong interest and sparked engaging discussions across the NANS community. Clinicians, surgeons, and engineers asked detailed technical questions and explored how a rigid-to-softening design, paired with precision manufacturing, could expand what’s possible in cervical neuromodulation.
Cervical spinal cord stimulation faces a well-known challenge: the cervical epidural space is anatomically constrained, and conventional lead designs must balance surgical handling with thickness and conformability. Backstop Neural’s novel cervical paddle lead addresses these barriers with a 0.3 mm profile and a proprietary polymer that is stiff during implantation and softens after placement, enabling the device to conform in situ and reduce mechanical mismatch at the tissue interface.
Dr. Rocha-Flores presented the poster and highlighted the depth of engagement from the neuromodulation community during the conference’s Friday evening poster session.
“The poster triggered insightful conversations, and conference attendees were highly engaged and asked thoughtful technical questions about the device behavior and our results,” said Rocha. “Attendees were especially excited about a lead that’s stiff during implantation but softens after placement to conform to the underlying dura, while still following the standard surgical workflow.”
Rocha continued, noting that the team “also had great discussions around high channel count capabilities and what becomes possible when you combine that with high-precision thin-film microfabrication and photolithography—new electrode geometries and implantable designs that can advance cervical pain treatment today and open pathways for emerging movement recovery applications tomorrow.”
Surgeons and clinicians responded positively to the concept’s workflow compatibility and to the successful biocompatibility outcomes presented, reinforcing the importance of innovation that integrates seamlessly into existing clinical practice.
Backstop Neural CEO Connie Manz attended the conference as well: “We were thrilled to join the neuromodulation community at NANS 2026. Our poster not only drew significant interest, but it also sparked meaningful conversations with clinicians, researchers, and potential partners about what next-generation devices can enable. We left encouraged by the enthusiasm received and the shared belief that many opportunities remain untapped for providing patients with better therapies through cervical spinal cord stimulation.”
The NANS 2026 annual meeting brought together physicians, scientists, engineers, and industry through scientific presentations, hands-on workshops, clinical updates, and collaborative discussions. Plenary sessions highlighted advancements and ethics in brain computer interfaces (BCIs), expanding indications for neuromodulation, and the foundation and future of neuromodulation science. Next year’s annual meeting will be held again in Las Vegas from January 22-25.
