Cortical Neuroprosthesis To Restore Visual Perception To Bling Patients.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,250.00
Summary
We will develop a medical device to restore visual perception to profoundly blind patients. This device will act to electrically stimulate the visual area of the brain. Electrical stimulation of this area leads to the visual perception of small spots of light in patients who are otherwise blind. By correlating the stimulation of the brain, which leads to the perception of spots of light, with an image of the surrounding environment acquired by a camera and digitally enhanced, we aim to provide b ....We will develop a medical device to restore visual perception to profoundly blind patients. This device will act to electrically stimulate the visual area of the brain. Electrical stimulation of this area leads to the visual perception of small spots of light in patients who are otherwise blind. By correlating the stimulation of the brain, which leads to the perception of spots of light, with an image of the surrounding environment acquired by a camera and digitally enhanced, we aim to provide blind patients with a very basic visual perception of their surroundings.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Deep Brain Stimulation Electrodes For Improved Efficacy In Parkinson’s Disease Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$809,940.00
Summary
We are developing an advanced Deep Brain Stimulation system to improve the treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Current devices benefit only half of the patients, due to imprecision in directing the electrical current to the ideal brain targets. Our system aims to deliver the current more selectively. Our implant will contain more and smaller electrodes. We will also use a state-of-the-art stimulator, implantable on the head, with capabilities far beyond the current technology.
Closed-loop Deep Brain Stimulation: Optimising Treatment Of Parkinson’s Disease Using Adaptive Stimulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$726,177.00
Summary
Deep brain stimulation is an established therapy for Parkinson's disease when patients’ symptoms cannot be controlled adequately using medication. Although deep brain stimulation usually improves quality of life significantly, existing devices have shortcomings that often result in poor symptom alleviation and/or undesirable side-effects. This project is aimed at developing an innovative system that automatically adjusts stimulation according to the continually fluctuating needs of each patient.
Pedunculopontine Nucleus Stimulation For Gait Freezing And Postural Instability In Parkinson’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$223,118.00
Summary
Over 64,000 Australians have Parkinson’s disease. Most patients with Parkinson’s disease ultimately develop gait ‘freezing’ and poor balance, which impair quality of life and cause falls. Unfortunately, gait freezing and poor balance often don’t improve with conventional treatments. We are therefore developing a new treatment for these symptoms, which involves implanting a pacemaker into a very deep brain region called the “Pedunculopontine Nucleus’.
Clarifying The Clinical Application And Mechanisms Of Pedunculopontine Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation For Parkinson’s Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$202,320.00
Summary
Over 64,000 Australians have Parkinson’s disease. Most patients with Parkinson’s disease ultimately develop gait ‘freezing’ and poor balance, which impair quality of life and cause falls. Unfortunately, gait freezing and poor balance often don’t improve with conventional treatments. We are therefore helping to develop a new treatment for these symptoms, which involves implanting a pacemaker into a very deep region in the brain called the “Pedunculopontine Nucleus’.
Our overall objective is to significantly improve the efficacy and efficiency of image-guided neurosurgery for brain tumours by including realistic computation of brain deformations, based on a biomechanical model, in a system to improve intra-operative visualisation, navigation and monitoring. The system will create an augmented reality visualisation of the intra-operative configuration of the patient’s brain merged with high resolution pre-operative imaging data.
Vascular Targeting Combined With Radiosurgery In An Arteriovenous Malformation Rat Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$102,345.00
Summary
Cerebral arteriovenous malformations are an important cause of stroke and brain bleeds. In many patients such a stroke can result in severe disability or death. Current management involves a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and endovascular treatments and carry a high risk of complications. This research project suggests a new form of treatment whereby irradiating the vascular malformation a medication could be administered to cause targeted clotting of the malformation.
Black Out Advisory System - Development Of An Implantable Sub-scalp Seizure Monitor
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$868,402.00
Summary
Blackouts may result from seizures or heart problems, and incorrect diagnosis exposes patients to risk and limits activities. Diagnosis is difficult because these events are infrequent. Implantable monitors are useful in diagnosing cardiac abnormalities, but prolonged seizure monitoring has not been feasible. This system will use a minimally invasive implant inserted under the scalp enabling distinction of epileptic from non-epileptic causes. The implant also has the capability to improve patien ....Blackouts may result from seizures or heart problems, and incorrect diagnosis exposes patients to risk and limits activities. Diagnosis is difficult because these events are infrequent. Implantable monitors are useful in diagnosing cardiac abnormalities, but prolonged seizure monitoring has not been feasible. This system will use a minimally invasive implant inserted under the scalp enabling distinction of epileptic from non-epileptic causes. The implant also has the capability to improve patient safety through remote monitoring.Read moreRead less
Factors Predisposing To Post Operative Epilepsy In Patients With Supratentorial Gliomas
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$66,550.00
Summary
Tumour associated epilepsy, a common, disabling problem for patients with brain tumours called gliomas is often refractory to medical treatment and the mechanisms by which gliomas cause seizures are unknown. This is the first extensive observational study looking at molecular factors within the brain such as Hyperpolarization ion channels, glutamate uptake receptors and ADAM22 genes that may help determine which patients with gliomas will develop epilepsy and which ones will not.