Towards a demand driven deep-brain stimulator for the treatment of movement disorders

In order to improve control of abnormal spontaneous electrical activity in the brains of patients with movement disorders we are developing a deep brain stimulator which records from the stimulating electrode to detect pathological oscillatory activity and responds with patterned electrical stimulation optimally programmed to arrest it. In a collaborative effort of clinicians, neurophysiologists, bioengineers and signal analysts, we will develop a prototype device that is able to utilise predictive brain activity, already identified for symptoms such as tremor and dystonic bursts, to deliver a short pulse of high frequency stimulation to arrest the onset of the ictus. This shift from current 180 Hz continuous stimulation to an estimated 3-7 Hz intermittent bursting stimulation will substantially decrease the power requirements and hence the cumulative costs of subsequent surgery. Should such a prototype be effective in the experimental Parkinsonian primate model, we will continue the work towards a clinically viable device.