How can cutting-edge research democratise health-care and help us see the unseen?
Translocus magnetic stimulation sends magnetic pulses through the skull to activate certain points in the brain.
It provides a drug-free and painless treatment for many neurological disorders, such as depression or chronic pain.
However, currently only few can benefit from it.
The device can only focus on a single point in the brain at the time and use of complex technology requires a trained professional, making process quite time-consuming.
A novel technology could revolutionise the treatment of brain disorders.
With multilocus transcranial magnetic stimulation (mTMS) device, algorithm takes the lead.
Algorithm-guided technology cuts the need for highly specialised personnel and can quickly adapt to changes in the brain activity.
The mTMS device can simultaneously stimulate several points in the brain and adapt to changes on the fly.
mTMS enables accurate, precise and efficient treatment for a wide range of diseases – and much wider group of patients than before.
It can also open new pathways for neurological research.
'The longer you ski the same track, the better the track gets.
Magnetic stimulation can open new paths for the brain, steering it out of a depressive spiral, for example.
A rutted human mind can sometimes benefit from an external stimulus to see or think in new ways.'
– Risto Ilmoniemi, Wireless connection to human brain
The development of mTMS device requires networked collaboration across disciplines, professions and expertise.
Border-crossing collaboration is the key to creative and bold ideas, problem-solving and innovations.
Same goes with the team that aims to realise
a small, inexpensive and easy-to-use magnetic resonance imaging device.
In stroke care, time is of the essence.
Stroke is a serious disturbance of blood circulation in the brain caused by infarction or haemorrhage. Distinguishing between these two is challenging, yet crucial for effective treatment.
Imaging systems used to diagnose strokes are typically large, expensive and complex to site and use.
Making crucial imaging technologies – such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – small, inexpensive and easy-to-use could bring timely diagnosis and treatment to patients, wherever they are.
Imagine if you could get an MRI done in an ambulance, instead of the ambulance rushing you to the hospital in order to get diagnosis and treatment.
AMRI research project aims to realize this kind of device.
Collaboration across engineers, designers and paramedic students ensures that the device would work not only in theory, but also in practice.
The project is an excellent example of how design methods and processes can be harnessed also in the unexpected contexts.
PROJECTS
Wireless connection to the human brain
Accessible magnetic resonance imaging – AMRI
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