translationVicthom obtains a crucial patent Anne-Louise Champagne February 14, 2006 - 07h24 Victhom Bionique Human (VHB) has been just seen granting a patent of the American authorities for a microchip which represents, according to the president of the company, "the next revolution" as regards human bionics. This chip is a component of the "intelligent" bladder to which Victhom has worked for several months. But it could also be useful for the treatment of various pathologies of the nervous system. Applications are possible in cardiology, chronic pain, apnea of the sleep, and even for the control of obesity. The innovation with this chip, it is that it can "include/understand" the nerve impulse emitted by a nerve, rather than only to stimulate one body, as do it the current devices. In short, it makes it possible to rather conceive bidirectional systems than strictly one-way. Thus, in the case of the bladder, the chip "understands" that this one is empty or full. It sends this message towards an interface carried outside the body and this one can in its turn send the message meaning that it is time, or not, to slacken the muscles... In the case of the control of obesity, one can imagine a sensor able to collect the signal of the hunger and to stimulate and reduce the size of the stomach. This neurological device would thus be used as palliative to people who are made stitch the stomach. During the year which comes, Victhom will concentrate on the development of a solution for incontinence. "There should be much news on this side this year", entrusts Benoît Cote, president and head of the direction of Victhom. But beyond this particular application, Victhom works with the development of a platform neurotechnologic, Bionic Closed Loop System, usable in other applications. The company thus projects to establish partnerships with the other principal players of the young industry of the neuromodulation and the neurostimulation which are Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Johnson&Johnson and St.Jude Medical, all the companies dimensioned with New York Stock Exchange. Victhom, a company of Quebec, was initially made known for its "leg bionics", an intelligent motorized leg which offers a greater comfort to the cut down person.