Grounded in clinical practice.
We help clinicians, founders and device companies challenge an idea, refine its design and plan its development—with particular expertise in spine and interventional medicine.
Good development starts with the right questions. We bring clinical perspective and inventive thinking to the decisions that shape an early-stage medical device.
Explore the clinical need, the user and the workflow. Find the assumptions worth testing before committing to a design.
An agreed review of the clinical problem, intended users, existing alternatives and key assumptions, with a prioritised list of next questions.
Refine concepts, explore geometry and develop a clearer design brief informed by how the device will actually be used.
A focused design brief, concept critique or exploration of alternative configurations. CAD scope is agreed for each project.
Define the next prototype and the questions it needs to answer, with specialist engineering and testing partners where required.
A prototype brief and staged bench-testing plan: what to build, what to measure and which specialist support is required.
Organise the technical story, explore competing approaches and prepare for discussions with patent and development specialists.
A technical invention summary and preliminary landscape review to support discussions with a qualified patent attorney.
Particular expertise in spine, pain medicine and interventional devices. We understand procedures, instruments, access and implantable technology—and welcome ideas from all medical specialties, bringing in specialist input where needed.
Whether you have an early idea or a concept ready for development, start with a free, no-obligation discussion. We’ll help you choose the right support and provide a tailored quotation.
Pressure-test your idea before committing to development.
We review one device concept, challenge its assumptions and explore the clinical need, intended users and practical obstacles.
Best for Clinicians, inventors and early-stage founders seeking an independent view.
Turn a promising idea into a clearer device concept.
We bring clinical insight and design thinking together to define what your device needs to do and explore how it could take shape.
The model communicates shape, dimensions, arrangement and intended operation. Rhino .3dm and STEP deliverables are agreed in the brief, where suitable. Detailed mechanisms, complex assemblies, tolerances, manufacturing drawings, simulation and further revisions are quoted separately. Preliminary CAD is not manufacture-ready or technically validated.
Best for Inventors and teams ready to develop a defined design direction.
Plan the work that takes your concept towards a prototype.
We help you prioritise the next development stage, identify the questions testing must answer and determine where specialist support is needed.
Best for Teams preparing for prototyping, funding applications or a larger development programme.
Fees agreed following an initial discussion.
After a free, no-obligation discussion, we’ll recommend the appropriate support and provide a written scope, clear deliverables and a tailored quotation before any paid work begins. Prototype manufacture, laboratory testing, formal patent advice and external specialist fees are quoted separately. Confidentiality and ownership of project work are agreed before work begins.
Tell us about your project and the support you need. We’ll explore how we can help, recommend a suitable option and explain the next steps. Share only a non-confidential outline initially.
Selected inventions developed through PainLab and Neuromodulation Specialists show how we turn clinical questions into device concepts and patent applications. Ownership is identified for each project.
An implantable lead concept combining electrical contacts with enclosed light emitters for optical and electrical stimulation.
EP4112116B1 · Granted 12 Nov 2025 ↗A shape-memory electrode concept designed to pass through an introducer in a compact form and expand at the treatment site.
US20250261987A1 ↗WO2025172767A1 ↗A development concept investigating blue light at the surface of implanted pulse generators, including pacemaker applications, to address bacterial adhesion and biofilm.
Early-stage developmentAn electrode configuration designed to create overlapping electrical fields along the same axis, producing a beat signal for neuromodulation.
Inventors: Thomas L. Yearwood and William J. Carroll.
Assigned to Neuromodulation Specialists Ltd.
Ownership is shown for each invention. These are development technologies; patent status does not establish clinical effectiveness or regulatory approval.
Clinical practice, biomechanics, evidence evaluation and manufacturing expertise come together to shape how we approach a new device.
Clinical insight / 3D designConsultant in Pain Medicine
Stephen combines experience in spinal pain, interventional practice and clinical evidence evaluation with hands-on 3D design. An experienced Rhino 3D designer, he has designed all of PainLab’s inventions, translating clinical ideas into detailed device models.
He has completed the King’s MedTech Accelerator programme. His background also includes consultant practice at Guy’s & St Thomas’ and chairing national NICE guideline committees.
Clinical perspective / biomechanicsPain medicine specialist · MD, PhD
Tom combines experience in spinal cord stimulation and implantable neuromodulation with a PhD in mechanical engineering (biomechanics), and a background in medical device trials and industry consultancy.
He is a director of Neuromodulation Specialists Ltd and co-inventor of its published single-axis interferential stimulation patent applications.
Engineering / manufacturingSenior Process Engineer · King’s College London
Michael brings medical device industry experience, international project leadership and expertise in manufacturing processes. At King’s, he leads the MAISI engineering team and helped develop its cleanroom and manufacturing capabilities.
View Michael’s King’s profile ↗Share a non-confidential outline of your concept, where you are in development and the help you need.
Establish suitability, confidentiality and a defined scope of work, with clear deliverables and agreed fees.
Start with a concept review or development task. Bring in specialist engineering, patent or regulatory expertise when the project needs it.
A productive collaboration starts with a well-defined problem and an agreed brief.
Clinicians from any medical specialty with a device idea, early-stage medtech teams and device companies looking for clinical and design input. Our particular strengths are spine, pain medicine and interventional devices. We start by checking the project fits our expertise and identifying any additional specialist input it needs.
Start with a non-confidential outline. Confidentiality arrangements and potential conflicts should be addressed before sharing unpublished technical details.
Existing IP, ownership of new project work and any use of PainLab technology must be agreed in writing before work begins. Our own invention portfolio is distinct from each client’s project.
We can help frame the technical invention and identify questions for specialists. Formal patent advice, filings and freedom-to-operate opinions require a qualified patent attorney. Regulatory scope and support are agreed with appropriate specialists.
Our initial discussion is free and without obligation. Fees for the PainLab Challenge, Design Sprint and Development Pathway are tailored to the agreed scope and complexity. We provide a written scope, clear deliverables and a quotation for you to approve before any paid work begins. Prototype manufacture, testing and external specialist work are quoted separately.
Whether you have a sketch, an early prototype or a clinical problem that needs a better solution, let’s explore what comes next in a free, no-obligation discussion.
Or email info@painlab.net.
