Patients suffering from Motor Neurone disease, also known as Amyotrohic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, eventually have trouble breathing as the nerves which supply the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm become progressively more affected. Preliminary data from Clinical trials in the USA show that early use of the NeuRx system strengthens the diaphragm and preserves the patients' innate ability to breathe unaided, significantly delaying the need for mechanical ventilation. The system may also be used in addition to non-invasive ventilation (Bi-Pap).

 The NeuRx system activates contraction of the diaphragm to provide a more physiological form of respiration, preserving the patients' natural defences against chest infections: the nose, pharynx and sinuses which effectively provide a natural barrier against infections. Patients also preserve their sense of smell and taste, lost when ventilation takes place through a tracheotomy.

Spinal Cord Injury patients with lesions above the C4 vertebral level can no longer breathe unaided. The NeuRx System can also be used as an adjunct to, or to replace, full time mechanical ventilation. Indeed Christopher Reeves ("Superman") was one of the first spinal cord injured patients to be implanted with a NeuRx System.

The advantages of the NeuRx System are:

• May delay the need for invasive mechanical ventilation in ALS patients.
• Reduces or eliminates incidence of pneumonia and other chest infections.
• Reduces airway fluid secretions, reducing the frequency of airway suction procedures.
• Increases lung compliance thus reducing the effort of breathing (for ALS patients).
• Reduces oxygen desaturation episodes during sleep (central sleep apnoea).
• Reduces posterior lobe atelectasis.
• Reverses the effects of diaphragm dysuse atrophy and strengthens the diaphragm.
• Allows patients on full time mechanical ventilation to regain their sense of smell and taste.
• Increases mobility and makes travelling much easier when compared to invasive mechanical ventilation