KIMS Bengaluru Launches India’s First Adaptive DBS For Parkinson’s

KIMS Hospitals in Bengaluru has become the first centre in India to introduce Adaptive Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. This new system adjusts stimulation in real time based on brain signals. It means more personalised treatment, fewer manual changes, and possibly longer battery life for patients.

What Makes This DBS Different?

Traditional Deep Brain Stimulation sends constant electrical signals to the brain. It helps control tremors, stiffness, and slow movement. But it does not change automatically.

Now, KIMS Hospitals has introduced adaptive DBS. This system can sense brain activity and respond instantly. It uses brain-sensing technology called BrainSense, built on the Percept platform. When the brain’s signals change, the device adjusts stimulation on its own.

That means less guesswork. Less manual tweaking.

Doctors still set the limits and control the therapy, but the system reacts in between visits. That’s the big shift.

How It Helps Patients

Parkinson’s symptoms are not same every hour. Some days are better. Some moments worse. Adaptive DBS reads those changes through local field potentials, especially beta wave activity, and responds quickly.

According to Dr. Guruprasad Hosurkar, who leads the Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder Programme at KIMS, this reduces the need for patients to adjust their device settings. Many patients earlier had to visit hospitals to fine-tune stimulation. Now, the device does much of it automatically.

Studies also suggest that overall stimulation usage may reduce by nearly 50 percent. That can extend battery life. Fewer battery replacements means lower long-term costs and fewer procedures. It also may reduce side effects caused by constant excess stimulation.

It sounds small. But for someone living with Parkinson’s every single day, it changes routine a lot.

India Joins Global Innovation

Adaptive DBS first received approval in the United States. Later it was introduced in places like Japan. India approved the technology earlier this year, and KIMS Hospitals is among the first to implement it.

Dr. Raghuram Gopalakrishnan, head of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery at KIMS, shared that in the first phase, select existing DBS patients will be upgraded through software updates and advanced programming. Around four to five eligible patients are expected to receive the new system in early March.

He also explained how AI plays a role. The algorithm studies neuron waveforms and adjusts stimulation accordingly. It’s smart, but still under doctor supervision. That balance matters.

A Step Toward Personalised Brain Care

Managing Director Dr. Nitish Shetty said this marks a major step in personalised neurological care. The goal is simple. Better quality of life. Better control of symptoms.

Parkinson’s disease affects movement, confidence, daily independence. Any improvement in stability means more comfort for patients and families.

By introducing adaptive closed-loop DBS, KIMS Hospitals positions itself at the front of neurological innovation in India. It’s not just about new machines. It’s about giving patients therapy that listens to their brain in real time.

And honestly, that feels like the future already started.