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Eindhoven, the Netherlands
– NeuroNexus Technologies and Philips Research today
announced that they have signed a joint research
agreement to develop next-generation deep brain
stimulation devices with the ambition to improve the
treatment of neurological diseases and psychiatric
disorders. By combining Philips Research’s strengths
in microelectronics, signal processing, ultra-low
power system design and miniaturization with
NeuroNexus Technologies’ expertise in micro-scale
electrode design and fabrication, the two companies
aim to show the technical feasibility of highly
programmable and MRI-safe deep brain stimulation
devices. Their initial research will aim to meet the
functional requirements of a deep brain stimulation
device for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
This is a degenerative disorder of the central
nervous system that impairs people’s motor skills
and speech, leading to a progressive loss in quality
of life. Recent publications suggest that deep brain
stimulation could also be suitable for treating
psychiatric disorders such as clinical depression.
Late-stage Parkinson’s disease is increasingly being
treated using deep brain stimulation – a technique
that involves implantation of a medical device, a
“brain pacemaker” that sends electrical impulses to
specific parts of the patient’s brain via
permanently inserted electrodes. The pacemaker
control unit is normally implanted into the
patient’s chest or abdomen, with a connecting lead
routed under the skin to the brain electrode. While
offering an effective therapy that helps many
patients, currently available technologies have
significant limitations.
“As currently used, deep brain stimulation poses
several challenges to both the patient and the
physician: The implantation requires a lengthy
surgical procedure involving both neurosurgeons and
neurologists. Following surgery, setting the right
stimulation parameters requires painstaking efforts
on the part of the neurologists before the patient
can be sent home. In the long term, patients may for
example develop spine problems that would require
further examination using MRI, but with current
implants MRI scans are not possible due to the
materials used in the fabrication of DBS electrodes
and the stimulators”, explains Prof. Maximilian
Mehdorn, Head of Neurosurgery at the
Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Germany.
The joint research project aims to address these
clinical needs, and will leverage Philips’ expertise
in medical imaging and surgery planning with the aim
of simplifying the implantation process and
shortening the surgical procedure. Philips will also
contribute to making the entire device MRI
compatible so that patients fitted with the implant
are not barred from MRI scans. With its
world-leading track record in neural
micro-electrodes, NeuroNexus Technologies brings in
key technology and knowledge for novel brain probes.
“As neuroscientists become increasingly able to
understand the language of the brain and fix
neurological conditions with advanced electrical
stimulation techniques, they will need a new
generation of DBS devices that give them much
greater flexibility in tailoring therapy,” explains
Daryl Kipke, chief executive officer of NeuroNexus
Technologies. “With our unique micro-scale
implantable electrode technology and Philips
Research’s integration expertise, we are well
positioned to make a significant leap forward in
delivering technologies that will support
neurologists and neurosurgeons in improving patient
treatment.”
“Contributing to the development of MRI-compatible
deep brain stimulation devices may ultimately allow
us to combine DBS technology with our functional
imaging, image-guided intervention and therapy
planning capabilities to produce integrated
treatment suites for neurodegenerative disease,”
says Henk van Houten, senior vice president of
Philips Research and head of its Healthcare Research
program. “It’s yet another example of where the
coming together of in-depth clinical knowledge and
world-class technology expertise can work to the
benefit of patients.”
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