Therapeutic Benefits of Deep Brain Stimulation Optimized Using Robots

"What you're aiming for is a structure that's the size of a tic tac," said Faraji. "That's where the highest density of the cells resides and stimulating them will achieve the best symptom control." Hence, Faraji employs a combination of techniques to precisely locate the brain target. After obtaining a three-dimensional image of the patient’s brain using a high-definition MRI, he feeds the model of the brain to the software controlling a robotic arm. The computer creates a stereotactic roadmap of the brain, and during surgery, the arm allows the electrode wires to be targeted to a specific brain location with submillimeter precision. Faraji then evaluates if the wires are in the most optimal position by measuring the electrical activity of the cells in that area and assessing if the patient’s symptoms reduce when the electrodes are stimulated. "What's great is that our optimized DBS surgical technique even accelerates the programming of the pulse generator so that patients can achieve maximum control of their symptoms," said Faraji. "And because the targeting in the brain is so precise, patients typically see a reduction or symptoms by 70-80% even in the first programming session." Although deep brain stimulation with its optimized workflow is mainly used to treat movement disorders and epilepsy, Faraji hopes that in the near future, the technique could be used to relieve symptoms in other patients, such as those with Tourette's, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.