By Lisa Rosenberg

Deep Brain Stimulation

• Electrical probe implanted in brain

• Approved by FDA in mid 1990’s

• Hidden under skin• Does not damage healthy tissue

• Improves motor function

• For individuals who do not respond to medication

What is Deep Brain Stimulation?

• Implanted in specific areas of brain

• Differs depending upon disorder being treated

• Relieves Symptoms• Parkinson’s• Essential Tremors• Dystonia• OCD

How it Works

• Parkinson’s Disease• Globus Pallidus• Subthalamic Nucleus • Thalamus• Dystonia• Globus Pallidus• Essential Tremors• Thalamus• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder• Ventral Capsule

Illnesses Treated

• Probe is smaller than a millimeter• Four metal pads on probe

• Takes several hours

• Several scans done to map placement

• Patient is awake for surgery

• Hole drilled in skull

• Probe kept in place

with cap

Implantation of Device

• Wire planted under skin• Pulse generator planted under

collarbone• High Frequency• 100 times per second

• Implanted in both sides

of the brain• Programmed by wand

held in front of generator

Implantation of Device

• Risks associated with surgery• Intracranial Bleeds (12%)• Seizures (3%)• Headaches (25%)• Infection (6%)• Device complications• Probe replacement (9%)• Wire replacement (6%)• Repositioning of the probe (8%)• Replacement of pulse generator

(17%)• Risk of Death < 1%

Risks

• Keeps brain tissue in tact• No lesions• No destruction of the tissue

• Beneficial long term

• Costs covered by Insurance company• Around $70,000 if no insurance

• Battery lasts a long time• Replaced every 3 to 7 years with a simple

surgery

• Provides individuals with a manageable lifestyle

Benefits

• Asleep DBS• Done in a MRI machine• Possibility to treat many functional

disorders• Alzheimer’s Disease• Depression• Developing technology

Future

• Encyclopedia of Surgery <www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Ce-Fi/Deep-Brain-Stimulation.html>.

• University of Pittsburgh <pre.neurosurgery.pitt.edu/centers-excellence/brain-stimulation-epilepsy-surgery/deep-brain-stimulation

• Brown University <news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2011/02/dbs>

• WebMD <www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/news/20130224/scientists-pinpoint-how-deep-brain-stimulation-eases-ocd>

• CBS News <Minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/05/09/deep-brain-stimulation-offers-relief-for-people-with-parkinsons/>

• UCSF<neurosurgery.ucsf.edu/index.php/movement_disorders_parkinsons.html>

• WPI<aimlab.wpi.edu/research/projects/MRI_Robot_for_Neurosurgery>

• How Stuff Works <science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/deep-brain-stimulation2.htm>

References