The new technology opens the door for a range of potential treatments that have traditionally required open brain surgery, including deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.

‘The researchers implanted a 4 mm diameter Stentrode into blood vessels in sheep and achieved localised stimulation of brain tissue, all without open-brain surgery. They implanted devices into blood vessels that were adjacent to motor areas of the brain.’

This technology opens the door for a range of potential treatments that have traditionally required open brain surgery, including deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. 




Deep brain stimulation requires open brain surgery with an electrode implanted via burr hole surgery, where one or more holes are drilled in the skull so the electrodes can penetrate the brain. The Stentrode can place electrodes in the brain via blood vessels through a vein in the neck.
The work builds on previous research that showed the Stentrode? could be used to record brain signals, with the potential to control an exoskeleton in patients with paralysis. This study now shows the Stentrode? can also deliver targeted stimulation.
The proof-of-concept study is published in Nature Biomedical Engineering and involved researchers from The University of Melbourne, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Monash University and the company Synchron Australia.
"Stimulation-induced responses of the facial muscles and limbs were observed, and were comparable to those obtained with electrodes implanted following invasive surgery," the researchers wrote. "A minimally invasive endovascular surgical approach utilising a stent-electrode array is an encouraging safe and efficacious way to stimulate focal regions of brain."
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"While additional data is required to validate chronic safety and efficacy of the Stentrode, our previous research, and literature on the success of commercially available cranial stents and vascular lead wires supports our hypothesis that a Stentrode may be a suitable alternative to invasive neural implants," the researchers said.
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"This offers hope of less invasive treatments for the symptoms of conditions such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder," he said. Earlier research, released in 2016, demonstrated that Stentrodes implanted into blood vessels next to the motor cortex could pick up brain signals related to movement. The researchers plan to use the Stentrode to close the loop, making two-way communication with the brain possible.
In their upcoming clinical trial, the recording Stentrode will receive and interpret neural signals and enable a person with Motor Neurone Disease to control communication software. Eventually it is hoped this technology will be used to help all people suffering from paralysis to control computers, wheelchairs and exoskeletons.
"From within a blood vessel in the head, the Stentrode can pick up brain signals when people think about moving", Dr Opie said. "These can be converted into commands that enable direct-brain control of computers, vehicles or prosthetic limbs. With stimulation, sensory feedback is possible, and people may be able to feel what they are touching."
Source-Eurekalert