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. University of Pittsburgh <pre.neurosurgery.pitt.edu/centers- excellence/brain-stimulation-epilepsy-surgery/deep-brain-stimulation Brown University WebMD CBS News UCSF WPI How Stuff Works References