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Hacking The Brain: Czech Neurotech Startup Stimvia Brings AI To Non-Invasive BCI
Hacking The Brain: Czech Neurotech Startup Stimvia Brings AI To Non-Invasive BCI

Forbes

timea day ago

  • Health
  • Forbes

Hacking The Brain: Czech Neurotech Startup Stimvia Brings AI To Non-Invasive BCI

Lukáš Doskočil, founder and CEO of Stimvia Stimvia, a Czech startup founded by medical device executive Lukáš Doskočil, has developed a non-invasive neuromodulation system that uses electrical pulses to stimulate deep brain structures through the leg. Called URIS, the technology was first deployed to treat overactive bladder, but now shows early promise for a range of neurological disorders including Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Restless Leg Syndrome, which is treated with Parkinson's medication. A patient secures URIS sensors behind the knee, where a nerve provides access to the central nervous ... More system. At the core of Stimvia's approach is what Doskočil calls a "hack" into the brain via the peroneal nerve behind the knee. The URIS system uses proprietary non-invasive electrodes to send electrical signals along afferent nerve pathways to the prefrontal cortex, eliminating the need for invasive implants or surgery. "We did a mechanistic study using functional MRI and showed stimulation effects in deep brain structures," Doskočil told me. "That's never been done non-invasively before." Patients can easily control the intensity and duration of the treatment. Pilot studies testing the Stimvia URIS device for treating Parkinson's disease have turned heads in the neurology and urology communities. A study conducted at Ostrava University Hospital found that Parkinson's patients using URIS experienced measurable reductions in resting tremor and improvements in quality of life. 'Patients showed marked improvement in motor symptoms and overall well-being, with quality-of-life scores surpassing clinically meaningful thresholds. All without serious side effects,' said Professor David Skoloudik, Vice-Dean for Research at Ostrava University's Medical Faculty. A separate clinical paper notes URIS® may outperform traditional sacral and tibial nerve stimulation in treating bladder dysfunction without the needles or surgery. Stimvia's URIS device is connected to a companion app that collects data from each session, monitors patient symptoms, and adapts the stimulation protocol accordingly. Its latest version uses an AI-driven virtual assistant to optimize electrode placement and fine-tune pulse parameters in real time. "You could call it a virtual doctor," Doskočil said. It personalizes treatment using real-time body feedback, which represents a breakthrough for non-invasive therapy.' Stimvia's non-invasion URIS treatments are also painless. Patients are able to read, watch tv, or ... More even nap while undergoing treatment. The field is dominated by billion-dollar U.S. companies like Medtronic and Abbott. Boston Scientific last year bought Stimiva's competitor, Axonics, which also treats overactive bladder disorders, for almost $4B. Stimvia is small but agile. With 15 employees and manufacturing based in Pardubice, CZ, the company has already raised $8 million and is preparing a Series A round. It has shipped more than 200 units and is actively expanding across Europe. Denmark was the first foreign market, but the device is now being adopted in clinics across France, Italy, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, and the UK. Stimvia recently earned MDR certification from German standards body TÜV SÜD, opening the door to reimbursement in EU healthcare systems and clearing a path toward FDA approval. Patients can control the intensity and duration of the URIS treatment for Parkinson's symptoms. The implications go beyond overactive bladder, which affects 500 million people globally and is quietly responsible for a massive adult diaper industry and associated greenhouse gas emissions. 'The actual number is likely much higher and may approach the 1 billion mark, given a prevalence of around 16% among adults—surpassing even diabetes,' Doskočil told me. 'However, it remains a highly stigmatized condition that will become increasingly significant as the population ages.' According to Wired Czechia, investors have taken notice. Stimvia is backed by local venture funds like Xenocles, Venture Capital Partners and Purple Ventures, with another five to ten million in new funding expected soon. But Doskočil, who is not a doctor but trained in economics and medical technology, says Europe's fragmented reimbursement landscape makes it harder to scale. That's why the company is now setting its sights on the United States, where one FDA approval covers 50 states. 'It's not easy to innovate in Europe,' Doskočil told me. 'Every country is different. The U.S. is one market. That changes everything.' Stimvia is hiring a commercial team in Miami, including a new chief commercial officer with prior experience at LivaNova. The U.S. rollout will also include investigator-led trials, with hopes of replicating European success in a much larger market. Stimvia's technology offers new hope for patients with a range of brain-related conditions, from Parkinson's tremors to overactive bladder. As Doskočil says, 'OAB is a brain disease masquerading as a bladder problem,' highlighting how many disorders traditionally treated by symptoms are actually rooted deeply in the brain. With non-invasive neuromodulation, Stimvia is pioneering a new way to treat these conditions, changing lives without surgery or implants.

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