Minnetronix Medical’s Neuro division said today it joined with Duke University to co-found The Neurapheresis Consortium, which aims to accelerate the advancement of Neurapheresis Therapy intended to treat patients with diseases affecting the central nervous system.

The company’s Neurapheresis therapy system is a minimally invasive platform which includes a dual lumen catheter designed to be placed in the lumbar spine to filter contaminated cerebral spinal fluid to remove blood and blood breakdown byproducts, the St. Paul, Minn.-based company said. The system then returns clean cerebral spinal fluid to the patient.

The system, and its associated treatment, are intended to improve outcomes for patients suffering from diseases involving infectious, inflammatory and neurodegenerative agents in the central nervous system.

“Our goal is simple: To improve outcomes for neuro patients who currently have few, if any, treatment options. The Neurapheresis Consortium represents a powerful force of knowledge, skill and determination that will help transform the very real needs of patients suffering from neurological disease into life-enhancing solutions,” Minnetronix Neuro GM Matt Adams said in a press release

Duke neurosurgery associate professor Dr. Nandan Lad is slated to lead the consortiums efforts to advance Neurapheresis therapy through pre-clincial trials, with the group hoping the tech will eventually achieve approval for multiple indications.

“We are building an exceptional team of global disease and medical technology experts to advance our research and develop truly novel therapies. The Neurapheresis Consortium will unite the world’s leading authorities on specific disease states, medical technology experts and organizations that support grant-based funding, to help us deliver meaningful solutions to patients suffering from debilitating and life-threatening neurological conditions,” Dr. Lad said in a prepared statement.