Current neurostimulators help patients with Parkinson's disease or epilepsy. However, their main disadvantage is their size and dependence on batteries, which account for up to 85% of the device's weight and must be surgically replaced every three to four years. This means repeated operations and a heavy burden on both patients and the healthcare system.
Eric Glowacki and his team are looking for a solution in photovoltaic neurostimulation. They are developing miniature chips that function as photovoltaic cells. These implants can be activated by red or infrared light, which penetrates tissue to a depth of several centimeters. This means they do not need a battery – they receive energy from outside.
This approach has another major advantage: patients can start the therapy themselves. All they need is a smartphone whose light source can be set to the correct frequency. The mobile phone thus becomes a simple "controller" for the treatment.
The technology has been in development for more than ten years, and test results on animal models confirm its great potential. The team has a strong patent portfolio and is now looking for the best way to transfer it into clinical practice. If successful, it could fundamentally change the way neurostimulation is performed – from costly surgery to affordable and user-friendly treatment.
Eric Glowacki's team in Brno is developing technologies that can influence brain activity through the skin – without the need for complex surgery, safely and easily accessible to patients. The device is also portable, so it can be applied independently, eliminating the risks associated with surgery.
Current methods mainly target nerves and areas of the brain closer to the surface, but scientists are looking for ways to intervene in deeper structures as well. The non-invasive approach has a major advantage: the path to real-world application is significantly shorter, ranging from months to a few years, whereas invasive technologies can take decades.
They are collaborating on the research with St. Anne's University Hospital in Brno, where patients undergoing selected procedures have electrodes temporarily implanted in their brains. This allows scientists to test their stimulation procedures for a short period of time and immediately monitor the brain's responses. This provides valuable data directly from the clinical environment and brings research one step closer to patients.
The goal is to develop easily accessible procedures that will help people with Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, or chronic inflammation without the need for invasive surgery. If these technologies can be put into practice, it could be a major breakthrough in neurological care—faster, safer, and non-invasive.
