NeuroNexus Technologies and Philips partner to develop deep brain
stimulation devices
4 December 2008
NeuroNexus Technologies and Philips Research have signed a joint
research agreement to develop a new generation of deep brain stimulation
devices for the treatment of neurological diseases and psychiatric
disorders.
By combining Philips Research’s strengths in microelectronics, signal
processing, ultra-low power system design and miniaturization with
NeuroNexus Technologies’ expertise in micro-scale electrode design and
fabrication, the two companies aim to show the technical feasibility of
highly programmable and MRI-safe deep brain stimulation devices.
Their initial research will aim to meet the functional requirements
of a deep brain stimulation device for the treatment of Parkinson’s
disease. This is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system
that impairs people’s motor skills and speech, leading to a progressive
loss in quality of life. Recent publications suggest that deep brain
stimulation could also be suitable for treating psychiatric disorders
such as clinical depression.
Late-stage Parkinson’s disease is increasingly being treated using
deep brain stimulation — a technique that involves implantation of a
medical device, a 'brain pacemaker' that sends electrical impulses to
specific parts of the patient’s brain via permanently inserted
electrodes. The pacemaker control unit is normally implanted into the
patient’s chest or abdomen, with a connecting lead routed under the skin
to the brain electrode. While offering an effective therapy that helps
many patients, currently available technologies have significant
limitations.
Professor Maximilian Mehdorn, Head of Neurosurgery at the Christian-Albrechts
University of Kiel, Germany explained, “As currently used, deep brain
stimulation poses several challenges to both the patient and the
physician: The implantation requires a lengthy surgical procedure
involving both neurosurgeons and neurologists.
"Following surgery, setting the right stimulation parameters requires
painstaking efforts on the part of the neurologists before the patient
can be sent home. In the long term, patients may for example develop
spine problems that would require further examination using MRI, but
with current implants MRI scans are not possible due to the materials
used in the fabrication of DBS electrodes and the stimulators,”
The joint research project aims to address these clinical needs, and
will leverage Philips’ expertise in medical imaging and surgery planning
with the aim of simplifying the implantation process and shortening the
surgical procedure. Philips will also contribute to making the entire
device MRI compatible so that patients fitted with the implant are not
barred from MRI scans. With its world-leading track record in neural
micro-electrodes, NeuroNexus Technologies brings in key technology and
knowledge for novel brain probes.
“As neuroscientists become increasingly able to understand the
language of the brain and fix neurological conditions with advanced
electrical stimulation techniques, they will need a new generation of
DBS devices that give them much greater flexibility in tailoring
therapy,” explains Daryl Kipke, chief executive officer of NeuroNexus
Technologies. “With our unique micro-scale implantable electrode
technology and Philips Research’s integration expertise, we are well
positioned to make a significant leap forward in delivering technologies
that will support neurologists and neurosurgeons in improving patient
treatment.”
“Contributing to the development of MRI-compatible deep brain
stimulation devices may ultimately allow us to combine DBS technology
with our functional imaging, image-guided intervention and therapy
planning capabilities to produce integrated treatment suites for
neurodegenerative disease,” says Henk van Houten, senior vice president
of Philips Research and head of its Healthcare Research program. “It’s
yet another example of where the coming together of in-depth clinical
knowledge and world-class technology expertise can work to the benefit
of patients.”
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