Richard Hanbury
Founder, Sana Health
In 1992, Richard Hanbury was in a terrible Jeep accident. His nerve damage was so extensive that doctors gave him only a few years to live. Instead of accepting his fate, he began seeking a solution.
Hanbury founded Sana Health, which developed a device poised to revolutionize pain management. Sana recently won the UCSF Digital Health Award for Best Behavioral Health Company, and its device has taken the top spots in both the NATO Innovation Challenge and the P&G Innovation Award.
The Sana device uses neuromodulation patterns and biometric sensors to induce a therapeutic “flow state” — a state of deep relaxation — in the brain. This allows the brain to essentially reset and reprogram itself, reducing or even eliminating chronic pain. This flow state has also been shown to be effective at reducing anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
“I wanted to find a way to meditate from the outside in, so I could lower my pain levels,” Hanbury said. “I had no idea it would cure my pain.”