Electrifying invention

This implantable pulse generator is touted as a device to improve the health of paralysed patients.

Patients will next year be feeling the benefit of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) made by Thai scientists and engineers for 10 times less than foreign versions.

Project chief Dr Zeng Lertmanorat of Mahidol University 's Faculty of Engineering says that after two years developing the IPG, his team will test the device on animals before using it on humans next year at Siriraj and Ramathibodi hospitals.

One machine, many uses

"The device uses electric current to stimulate nerves or muscles affected by disease or injury," Zeng says.  "The first tests will be on patients paralysed due to spine injury. The IPG is designed to help them stimulate movements, control breathing and pass urine. If successful, we will try it out on patients suffering from other diseases."

The IPG has been designed to ease symptoms of shaking in Parkinson's patients, to correct abnormal heart rhythms, stimulate the inner ear for better hearing, and the vagus nerve to ease epilepsy symptoms.

"The first 30 IPGs will be created for patients at Siriraj and Ramathibodi. We then plan to distribute another 100 to hospitals across the country."

10 times cheaper

The university's IPG costs about Bt40,000, compared to about Bt400,000 for the imported version, Zeng says. In addition, unlike its foreign counterparts, no battery is needed to run the Thai machine.

"Patients can trust in our invention's safety. The biocompatible implant uses pulses that are generated electromagnetically."    

 The project is a team effort by several faculties at the university and has a budget of Bt2.5 million from the Thailand Research Fund.

As well as the IPG, the university's students have created a functional electrical stimulation machine (FES) which is currently being used to stimulate the muscles of stroke victims undergoing physical therapy at Siriraj Hospital. Its use should spread to other hospitals next year.

Both inventions were presented at a press conference yesterday at the Salaya campus in Nakhon Pathom to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the royal bestowal of the name "Mahidol" and its 121st year as a university.