Novel Endovascular Micromagnetic Neuromodulation for the Treatment of Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Abstract
Background: Over 64 million people suffer from epilepsy worldwide. In approximately 30% of people with epilepsy, traditional treatment is ineffective. Treatment-resistant epilepsy is prevalent in the Armed Forces where Soldiers suffer traumatic head injuries. In these people, electrical stimulation of the brain has shown promise in suppressing seizures. However, present electrical stimulation for the treatment of epilepsy uses electrodes implanted via open brain surgery. This procedure carries a substantial risk of infection, bleeding, impairment, and death. Furthermore, electrical stimulation is not precise enough to activate brain tissue at a distance greater than 2 millimeters. Due to these risks, this method is considered a treatment of last resort, meaning that the majority of people who may have benefitted from this technology are unable to access these therapies. Approach: We recently showed proof of principle that an electrode array may be implanted into the brain through a blood vessel without open brain surgery. This method is safer than traditional methods of open brain surgery. However, using electrical stimulation with these methods may not generate the required responses as the distance between the electrode and the target brain regions is greater than 2 millimeters. We, therefore, have developed a novel method that can be used to stimulate the brain from a distance. We can do this by using a coil to generate a magnetic field from a distance similar to how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) works using magnetic fields. The magnetic field can be used to target neural tissue at greater distances as it can pass through the tissue more easily compared to electrical current. Based on two highly successful technologies of magnetic neural stimulation and endovascular placement, our device can stimulate the brain without the need for open brain surgery. Our novel implantation technique opens the door for an innovative approach to targeting neural tissue that improves the safety and efficacy of stimulating the brain. The stimulation strategy proposed is a paradigm shift in the treatment of epilepsy. The approach used improves the safety of the intervention and the efficacy of the treatment. Significance and Relevance: An estimated 70 million individuals worldwide suffer from traumatic brain injury from all causes each year. Brain disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy may be developed after traumatic brain injury. There are also several neuropsychiatric conditions such as eating disorders, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive behavior, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc. in the military after deployment in warzones who will benefit from this technology. Previous devices have been considered a treatment of last resort and limited to a small group of patients. However, by reducing the risk and improving the precise targeting, we can extend this treatment to a greater number of patients including Service Members, Veterans, and their families. These improvements will revolutionize neuromodulation technology, by removing the barrier to entry for most patients. Innovation: Micromagnetic stimulation provides a means for focal brain stimulation without the need for open brain surgery. This technique brings together two unlikely technologies, the successful endovascular approach demonstrated in the endovascular implant that obviates brain surgery and successful magnetic stimulation that can achieve accurate stimulation from a distance. The device would be the first device capable of delivering targeted magnetic stimulation to the brain from within a blood vessel and has the potential to usher in a revolution for individuals with brain disorders. The minimally invasive nature of the device will enable expansion to the treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, making treatment accessible to a greater number of people. This provides a unique opportunity to develop a novel technology that
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2022
- Source ID
- W81XWH2210353
Entities
People
- Sam John
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Melbourne