11 innovative medical devices you need to know from 2018

January 18, 2019 By Danielle Kirsh

Pacemaker for the brain

[Image from iStockphoto.com/GuidoVrola]

Engineers at the University of California Berkeley developed a neurostimulator that can listen to and stimulate electric current in the brain simultaneously to deliver fine-tuned treatments to patients who have neurological diseases like epilepsy and Parkinson’s.

The device is a wireless, artifact-free neuromodulation device (WAND) that works like a pacemaker in the brain by monitoring electrical activity while delivering stimulation as needed. It is wireless and autonomous, which means it is able to recognize the signs of a tremor or seizure and adjust stimulation to prevent any unwanted movements.

So far, the device has only been tested on monkeys, but it has shown to be capable of detecting neural signatures and delivering electrical stimulation.

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About The Author

Danielle Kirsh

Danielle Kirsh is an award-winning journalist and senior editor for Medical Design & Outsourcing, MassDevice, and Medical Tubing + Extrusion, and the founder of Women in Medtech and lead editor for Big 100. She received her bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and mass communication from Norfolk State University and is pursuing her master's in global strategic communications at the University of Florida. You can connect with her on Twitter and LinkedIn, or email her at dkirsh@wtwhmedia.com.