Diagnostics
MRI or EEG imaging only provides clinical staff with a snapshot of brain activity, meaning abnormalities are often missed.
medical devices that offer a wealth of information without compromising patient comfort. “If we can leverage organic electrons, we could make medical devices with very high precision that would be extremely useful to neurologists and their patients,” says Gelinas.
Organic electrons are a class of materials capable of interacting with both electrons and ions to offer an unprecedented sensitivity to physiological signs within the body. These materials are not only biocompatible but also comfortable when in contact with bodily fluids, making them ideal for interfacing with active tissues and giving them the potential to advance neuroscience research. “We wanted to make a novel class of devices that gives better diagnostics without exposing patients to as much risk,” says Gelinas. With this intent, Gelinas’ team has already made huge strides in developing soft organic electronic devices for neuroscience monitoring. The device they are currently testing can listen, process, and transmit brain activity wirelessly, all while being fully implanted within the body. This remarkable innovation eliminates the need for external cables or wires entirely, which could change the course of neuroscience monitoring forever.
One of the most impressive aspects of Gelinas’ team’s research is that their device allows one to see down to the activity of the individual neurons in a person’s brain – something previously claimed to be scientifically unattainable. “This gives us a lot more power and precision for identifying when, where, and how things are going wrong in the brain,” explains Gelinas.
Epilepsy and beyond The team’s primary disease state focus, thus far, has been on epilepsy: a neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions. Epilepsy was
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an obvious place to start for several reasons: There is a strong pre-existing knowledge base on epilepsy, and patients with this condition have already shown positive responses to neurostimulation; there is a lot of room for improvement in the monitoring devices currently used with epilepsy patients – potential that Gelinas’ team can tap into; it allows them to take a patient-centric approach to research, as epilepsy already has a well-defined patient population to study closely.
While organic electron-fuelled neurological monitoring devices show enormous potential in improving clinical outcomes for people with epilepsy, Gelinas doesn’t want to stop there. The team envisions a broader future for their technology, intending to apply their findings to other neurological disorders over time, ultimately revolutionising the entire field of neuroscience. Gelinas and her team began their research using animal models, which allowed them to test the feasibility and effectiveness of their soft organic electronic devices safely before moving on to human subjects. The next critical step for Gelinas will involve more thorough testing to minimise risks and validate their devices’ real-world clinical application. “What we’re working towards right now is making sure we have full safety and appropriateness for human use,” she says. From there, the team will scale up the production of their devices so that they can meet the demands of human clinical trials. The ultimate goal is to make a positive impact on patient care by providing improved diagnostics and therapies for neurological conditions. With the development of soft organic electronic devices, patients may soon be able to benefit from comfortable, precise, and non-invasive monitoring solutions, opening new doors for accurate diagnoses and improved treatments in the field of neurology.
Practical Patient Care /
www.practical-patient-care.com
Gorodenkoff/
Shutterstock.com
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