Kitea Health relies on all-glass encapsulation capability of SCHOTT Primoceler Oy for miniaturized brain implant

09 December 2024, Germany, Mainz

  • New Zealand start-up Kitea Health has developed the world’s first miniaturized brain pressure sensing device, which was first implanted in a human brain in June 2024
  • The device was made possible through a collaboration with SCHOTT Primoceler Oy, whose Proteon™ all-glass package allowed the implant to be miniaturized to an unprecedented size
  • Clinical trials are underway, with plans for global market expansion by 2027, aiming to improve patient outcomes and reduce emergency hospital visits
Kitea Health, a pioneer in medtech, has successfully developed the world’s first miniaturized brain pressure sensing device. The breakthrough is poised to transform the treatment of neurological conditions such as hydrocephalus, the abnormal buildup of fluid in the brain. Implanted in a human brain for the first time in June 2024, the device monitors intracranial pressure in real-time, helping prevent severe complications before they occur. The remarkable miniaturization of the device was made possible through a close collaboration with SCHOTT Primoceler Oy, whose Proteon™ all-glass package enabled the implant to be reduced to an unprecedented size. Kitea Health’s mission is to shift the management of chronic neurological conditions from reactive to proactive care. “Our collaboration with SCHOTT Primoceler Oy enabled an implant small enough for safe, long-term use inside the brain while ensuring biocompatibility and reliability. This partnership has been key in pushing the boundaries of medical technology,” said Simon Malpas, CEO of Kitea Health. “The outcome of the trials conducted so far give us the confidence that the implant can remain in the brain for the patient's lifetime.”
The Proteon™ all-glass housing from SCHOTT Primoceler Oy lies in the open hand.
Proteon™ glass housing by SCHOTT Primoceler Oy was key to realizing Kitea's chip. Measuring just a few millimeters and weighing only 0.3g, it is an entirely wireless device with no built-in battery. Image: Kitea Health
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“We are proud to have supported Kitea Health in realizing their vision of a fully implantable, miniaturized brain device,” said Antti Peltonen, Business Development Manager at SCHOTT Primoceler Oy. “Our all-glass package can enable a new generation of smart medical devices that can improve patient outcomes while pushing the limits of what’s possible in medical implant designs. Nearly one million ProteonTM housings have already been produced for a range of applications, and we are excited to see what innovations are ahead.”

A vision for transformative patient care

Kitea Health’s implant provides patients with pressure measurements at home by transmitting data to their smartphones. This data can be shared with healthcare providers, allowing more informed decision-making and earlier interventions.

Malpas envisions this technology drastically reducing emergency hospital visits and improving the quality of life for patients, particularly children with hydrocephalus, who often undergo frequent surgeries due to shunt failures. "Our goal is to treat thousands of patients worldwide by providing real-time data that helps families and doctors intervene early,” Malpas said.

Global impact and future expansion

Kitea Health is conducting clinical trials with 20 patients and plans to expand to 150 patients in 2025. By 2027, the company expects to secure FDA and CE mark approvals, allowing the device to enter global markets, including Europe, the US, and Asia.

“Our implant is already showing great promise in initial trials,” Malpas shared. “We are confident that as we continue to grow and scale, this technology will impact millions of lives around the world. Our collaboration with SCHOTT Primoceler Oy has been an essential factor in getting us to this point, and we look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of what’s possible in medical technology.”

Proteon™ all-glass package is a product of SCHOTT Primoceler Oy.



More about Kitea Health: Kitea Health | Implantable Sensor

More about Proteon™ by SCHOTT Primoceler Oy: Proteon™ glass encapsulation | SCHOTT Primoceler Oy
Founders of Kitea Health. Bryon Wright, Simon Malpas, Natalia Lopez.

Founders of Kitea Health. (L to R: Bryon Wright, Simon Malpas, Natalia Lopez) Image: Kitea Health

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Founded in Auckland, New Zealand, Kitea Health is a medtech company dedicated to revolutionizing the way chronic neurological conditions are managed. The company’s mission is to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive management by developing cutting-edge implants and monitoring systems that empower patients and providers with real-time data.
SCHOTT Primoceler Oy, a subsidiary of SCHOTT AG, specializes in hermetic glass encapsulation for medical devices, leveraging revolutionary glass-micro-bonding technology to enable safe, reliable, and miniaturized medical implants.

About SCHOTT

International technology group SCHOTT produces high-quality components and advanced materials, including specialty glass, glass-ceramics, and polymers. Many SCHOTT products have high-tech applications that push technological boundaries, such as flexible glass in foldable smartphones, glass-ceramic mirror substrates in the world's largest telescopes, and laser glass in nuclear fusion. With their pioneering spirit, SCHOTT’s 17,050 employees in over 30 countries work as partners to industries such as healthcare, home appliances, consumer electronics, semiconductors, optics, astronomy, energy, and aerospace. In fiscal year 2023, SCHOTT generated 2.9 billion euros in sales. In addition to innovation, one of its important corporate goals is sustainability, where it is pursuing climate neutral production by 2030. SCHOTT was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in Mainz, Germany. The company belongs to the Carl Zeiss Foundation, which uses its dividends to promote science. Further information at SCHOTT.com

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Lea Kaiser, PR & Communications Manager
Lea Kaiser

PR & Communications Manager