In close partnership with hospital universities and institutions of higher education, CEA-LETI Healthcare develops new technologies to improve medical diagnosis and treatment of patients in a multidisciplinary environment linking fundamental research and transfer of technologies.
Post-doctoral position Design and test of a system for neuromodulation based on focused ultrasounds
We recently focused our interest on Brain Computer interfaces to cope with motor handicap and propose to patient with spinal cord injury devices for motor substitution [i],[ii],[iii].
In parallel, several groups at CEA investigated the advantages of ultrasound for medical imagery[iv], diagnosis or developed miniaturized ultrasound sources (CMUT/PMUT).
The post-doctoral position is funded in the framework of a LETI-Carnot project on this innovative thematic. The project aims to:
- build a test bench to validate the compatibility of ultrasound neuromodulation with neural recording devices,
- design optimization for fine resolution and low power,
- specify a system combining neuromodulation by focused ultrasound and electrophysiological recording.
The post-doctoral student, with the help of a team of experts in the fields of ultrasounds and biomedical system, will be in charge of the modelling of acoustic waves propagation, compatibility tests with recording system, system design and experimental validation of resolution or efficiency. The concepts underlying the project could in the future be applicable to new implantable or wearable devices for a combination of focused ultrasound for neuromodulation and neural recording.
[i] Mestais, C. S., Charvet, G., Sauter-Starace, F., Foerster, M., Ratel, D., & Benabid, A. L. (2014). WIMAGINE: wireless 64-channel ECoG recording implant for long-term clinical applications. IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering, 23(1), 10-21.
[ii] Benabid, A. L., Costecalde, T., Eliseyev, A., Charvet, G., Verney, A., Karakas, S., ... & Chabardes, S. (2019). An exoskeleton controlled by an epidural wireless brain–machine interface in a tetraplegic patient: a proof-of-concept demonstration. The Lancet Neurology, 18(12), 1112-1122.
[iii] Lorach, H., Galvez, A., Spagnolo, V., Martel, F., Karakas, S., Intering, N., ... & Courtine, G. (2023). Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain–spine interface. Nature, 618(7963), 126-133.
[iv] Vernay, A., Blanquer, G., Gerbelot, R., Cao, E., Gerfault, L., Blandin, P., & Perriollat, M. (2024, June). Bimodal optical and ultrasound acquisition bench for pulse wave monitoring. In Tissue Optics and Photonics III (Vol. 13010, pp. 11-13). SPIE.
Applicants should hold a doctorate in electronic system design with significant experience in ultrasounds.
Required knowledge: design, modelling (Field II, Must for Matlab), characterization and integration of medical devices; microfabrication methods.
The ability to work in a cross-disciplinary environment in connection with biologists, chemists, engineers and clinicians is absolutely required.