METHODS FOR HIGH-PRECISION AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE MICRO-ELECTRODE INSERTION IN DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION

LI ZHE

Publication

METHODS FOR HIGH-PRECISION AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE MICRO-ELECTRODE INSERTION IN DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION

LI ZHE

Abstract

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for refractory neurodegenerative/neuropsychiatric disorders. However, DBS is lowly accepted because of the invasive operation and unsatisfactory stimulation efficacy. Invasive operations such as insertion of a thick electrode into brain and large burr hole opening on skull cause serious tissue damage; low targeting accuracy of electrode implantation causes unsatisfactory stimulation efficacy. The aim of this thesis is to develop a high-precision and minimally invasive electrode insertion operation. For this aim, two novel techniques for deflection-free microelectrode insertion and micro-hole forming on skull have been developed. A numerically controlled insertion system was constructed based on these techniques. Moreover, a pioneering microelectrode insertion operation has been developed. Compared with conventional operations, this operation is less invasive and has higher targeting accuracy. Adoption of this operation can help transform DBS into a safer treatment of higher efficacy, which will make DBS better accepted by patients.