"The basic idea is to see if we are able to evolve from the treatment of the disease to the treatment of the patient," said Rui Vaz, director of the Neurosurgery service at CHUSJ and responsible for the team that made the implantation of the "innovative" medical device.

In an interview with Lusa, the neurosurgeon said that this device, entitled 'BrainSense', in addition to being able to "stimulate the brain, also allows to capture information about brain waves [beta waves] that are related to Parkinson's symptoms".

"The current treatment is practically constant throughout the day, while the disease itself fluctuates throughout the day. Therefore, this will be the first step to, through the records obtained, adapt the treatment to the patient's clinical condition during the day, with less treatment in the phases when he is well and more treatment in the phases when he is bad", he explained.

According to Rui Vaz, the stimulator, which was implanted this morning in a woman with Parkinson's, "does not differ in any way for the patient", being that it is even "smaller" than the device usually used.

"The size of the battery is slightly smaller, but for the patient it is all the same", he guaranteed, adding, however, that the technology is "15 percent more expensive than the normal battery".

"The device costs 15 percent more than the normal battery, but we hope that this 15 percent will be compensated, since, when adapting to the disease, the battery also lasts longer", he stressed.

To Lusa, the neurosurgeon said that, at this moment, the neurostimulator is only applicable to Parkinson’s patients with akinetic-rigid syndrome, that is, with limited movements.

"We will, prudently, see the results we have achieved. There is a sufficiently strong scientific basis, but serious clinical experience is now beginning and, as long as there is no more evidence about the tremor forms [Parkinson's syndrome], we will not put it on" he concluded.

The Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João was the third hospital in the world to implant this medical device, and so far only two German hospitals have done so.