Technological projects portfolio

Some patients with Parkinson’s disease are treated with a Deep-Brain Stimulation (DBS) device as a last resort.

DBS is a surgical technique that involves implanting electrodes into a region of the brain, followed by the application of electrical stimuli. The electrical pulses modify the activity of neurons in targeted brain regions, helping to mitigate the symptoms of neurological disorders.

This type of device has a number of disadvantages, particularly concerning the fine-tuning of the stimulus operated by the DBS. One of the main issues is the ability to analyse brain waves while stimulating the patient. The electrical stimulation created by the electrode disrupts the analyses, making it very difficult to detect certain signals in the brain.

The MOBA-DBS project aims to optimize the stimulus operated by DBS in closed loop, by estimating unobservable quantities (bio-markers) exploited in conjunction with measured data. The technology is based on the modelling of neuronal dynamics, implanted on a neuromorphic chip.

The integrated system delivers better performance, mitigation of side effects and better energy efficiency.

MOBA-DBS technology is a neuromorphic system that can be integrated with an existing DBS device, enabling optimization of closed-loop stimulus modulation for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.