Tommaso Caligari was appointed Alfiere della Repubblica by Mattarella thanks to the invention of Parkinsonon Detector capable of carrying out an early diagnosis of this disease
Tommaso Caligariyoung talent of only 19 years old, was recently awarded the title of Alfiere della Repubblica by the President Sergio Mattarella. The recognition rewards the incredible contribution that Tommaso offered to medical research, thanks to the development of a device capable of carrying out a early diagnosis of Parkinson’sa neurodegenerative disease often difficult to identify in its initial stages.
The inspiration for the project was born from a personal experience: Tommaso’s grandfather, affected by the diseasewas the motivation that pushed the boy who sought a concrete solution. Thanks to its training at theIti omar of Novarawhere he studies electronics and roboticsTommaso has developed a system that combines cameras and artificial intelligence To analyze the patient’s body movements. The goal is to identify those micro-segnals motor – like the reduced oscillation of the arm during the walk – which often go unnoticed, but which can represent the first symptoms of the disease.
How the Parkinson Detector works works
The operation of the device is surprisingly simple and effective: two cameras positioned on the sides of the room record the person’s journey, while a algorithm – written entirely by Tommaso – processes the data to detect any anomalies. All in a way. The system was tested in collaboration with the Parkinson association of Arona on a sample of 11 patients, obtaining very encouraging results.
In addition to the “Parkinson detector”, Tommaso also created a system for monitoring atmospheric pollution through Lora technology, confirming its vocation for innovation applied to the common good. His work has already been awarded nationally, distinguishing himself in the “Young and Sciences” competition in Milan and even landing on the European Eucys contest in Brussels. The invention was also presented at the Maker Faire in Rome, in the Senate and in other important scientific contexts.
Tommaso dreams of becoming an electronic engineer and wants his device to be adopted in health facilities to improve the effectiveness of early diagnosis. His success is also thanks to the support received by the school that promotes concrete projects as tools for a training that looks to the future.
