Companies / Highland Instruments

Medical device company profile

Highland Instruments

Massachusetts neurotechnology developer advancing ESStim, an investigational platform combining electrical and ultrasound brain stimulation.

Medical Device DeveloperNeurology, Mental Health & PainNeural Interfaces & NeurostimulationNeurology

Headquarters🇺🇸Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

FoundedNot confirmed

Commercial statusIn developmentESStim is investigational and is not commercially distributed.

Employees2–10 ^[8]LinkedIn company-size range · Checked 2026-11-02

Estimated revenueNot confirmed

Disclosed funding$200,000 ^[10]MassVentures and Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development non-dilutive grant award; not equity or total funding.

Official websitewww.highlandinstruments.com ↗

Company overview

Highland Instruments is a Cambridge, Massachusetts neurotechnology company developing noninvasive brain-stimulation systems. Its ESStim platform combines transcranial electrical stimulation with ultrasound stimulation.

The company is investigating applications in Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain and psychiatric conditions. Supporting technologies include imaging, wearable sensors, movement measurement and computational methods.

ESStim remains investigational and is not in commercial distribution. Highland has received federal SBIR/STTR research support and a Massachusetts START Stage II award to advance product development and commercialization readiness.

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Leadership

4 people

John McDonoughChairman ^[7]

Timothy WagnerFounder and Chief Science Officer ^[7]

Laura DipietroChief Technology Officer ^[7]

Alex HerzlingerChief Business Officer ^[7][9]

Products & regulatory status How does MedTechIndex get this information?

Summary

ESStim remains investigational. Highland’s historical K110752 clearance covers a holder for cranial-electrotherapy electrodes and diagnostic transcranial-ultrasound probes, rather than authorization of ESStim therapy. ^[7][5][4]

Regulatory snapshot How to read this snapshot

U.S. FDA

—
510(k) clearances: —
De Novo grants: —
PMA approvals: —
Recall events

Latest recorded source review: 2026-11-02.

Scope: selected product families.

Commercial portfolio snapshot

No commercially marketed product portfolio has been established in the reviewed material.

Commercial development

Noninvasive brain stimulation platform

ESStim ↗

Investigational noninvasive neuromodulation platform coupling transcranial ultrasound and electrical stimulation. Development programs address movement disorders, chronic pain and psychiatric conditions. ^[6][7]

Investigational; not commercially distributed