Abstract
Deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical technique to treat certain neurologic and psychiatric conditions, relies on pre-determined stimulation parameters in an open-loop configuration. The major advancement in DBS devices is a closed-loop system that uses neurophysiologic feedback to dynamically adjust stimulation frequency and amplitude. Stimulation-driven neurochemical release can be measured by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), but existing FSCV electrodes rely on carbon fiber, which degrades quickly during use and is therefore unsuitable for chronic neurochemical recording. To address this issue, we developed durable, synthetic boron-doped diamond-based electrodes capable of measuring neurochemical release in humans. Compared to carbon fiber electrodes, they were more than two orders-of-magnitude more physically-robust and demonstrated longevity in vitro without deterioration. Applied for the first time in humans, diamond electrode recordings from thalamic targets in patients (n = 4) undergoing DBS for tremor produced signals consistent with adenosine release at a sensitivity comparable to carbon fiber electrodes. (Clinical trials # NCT01705301).
Highlights
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is used to treat a number of debilitating neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders such as essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease, and depression, which are linked to abnormal extracellular neurochemical concentrations (Burns et al, 1985; Sarter et al, 2007)
A Diamond-Based Electrode for Human Use be capable of monitoring neurochemical release during human DBS surgery using carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFMs) (Chang et al, 2012b)
The electrodes used in this study were prepared by depositing films of polycrystalline boron-doped diamond on conicallysharpened tungsten rods using chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
Summary
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is used to treat a number of debilitating neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders such as essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease, and depression, which are linked to abnormal extracellular neurochemical concentrations (Burns et al, 1985; Sarter et al, 2007). To improve outcomes and reduce adverse effects, the goal of current research is an implantable closed-loop “smart” device that uses neurochemical feedback to drive stimulation parameters (Lee et al, 2009). The integration of WINCS with a neurochemical sensing microelectrode coupled with a feedback control algorithm could serve as the foundation for a chronically implantable closed-loop DBS device. For such a device to be clinically useful, implanted recording electrodes must be both mechanically and electrochemically stable over the life-time of the patient. In this regard, CFMs represent a major obstacle
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
