Medtronic, Inc. has entered into a patent cross-licensing agreement with NeuroPace, Inc., a privately held medical device company specializing in the detection, treatment and monitoring of epilepsy and other neurological disorders via responsive brain stimulation.

Under the terms of the royalty-bearing, non-exclusive agreement, the two companies cross-licensed patents and patent applications of neurological technology related to direct electrical stimulation or monitoring of the brain. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"The agreement allows Medtronic to further develop and expand its innovative portfolio of therapies for patients suffering from neurological disorders, with the most immediate application in sensing and treating refractory epilepsy," said Jon Tremmel, president, Medtronic Neurological.

Medtronic currently is conducting a pivotal clinical trial in the United States for the Intercept Epilepsy Control System, the company's brain stimulation therapy that may reduce seizure rates in patients with epilepsy. NeuroPace also is sponsoring an investigational study with its Responsive Neurostimulator (RNS) system.

"The two companies share common goals in improving treatment for patients with epilepsy and other neurological conditions," Frank Fischer, NeuroPace's chief executive officer said adding, "We each now have greater freedom to develop technology using the most advanced platforms in the industry."

Epilepsy is a condition that affects 2.3 million Americans, and about one-third of these patients continue to experience seizures despite a wide range of treatment options.