Abstract
Correct position and orientation of a directional deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrode in the patient’s brain must be known to fully exploit its benefit in guiding stimulation programming. Magnetoelectric (ME) sensors can play a critical role here. The aim of this study was to determine the minimum required limit of detection (LOD) of a ME sensor that can be used for this application by measuring the magnetic field induced by DBS. For this experiment, a commercial DBS system was integrated into a head phantom and placed inside of a state-of-the-art Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID)-based magnetoencephalography system. Measurements were performed and analyzed with digital signal processing. Investigations have shown that the minimum required detection limit depends on various factors such as: measurement distance to electrode, bandwidth of magnetic sensor, stimulation amplitude, stimulation pulse width, and measurement duration. For a sensor that detects only a single DBS frequency (stimulation frequency or its harmonics), a LOD of at least 0.04 pT/Hz is required for 3 mA stimulation amplitude and 60 s pulse width. This LOD value increases by an order of magnitude to 0.4 pT/Hz for a 1 kHz, and by approximately two orders to 3 pT/Hz for a 10 kHz sensor bandwidth. By averaging, the LOD can be reduced by at least another 2 orders of magnitude with a measurement duration of a few minutes.
Highlights
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an elective surgical procedure in which electrodes are implanted in specific areas of the brain
This work has investigated the minimum limit of detection (LOD) a magnetic sensor must have in order to be used to measure the magnetic field generated by deep brain stimulation (DBS)
In order to determine this, magnetic measurements were performed with a state-of-the-art SQUIDbased MEG scanner and analyzed
Summary
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an elective surgical procedure in which electrodes are implanted in specific areas of the brain. It has become an evidence based therapy for Parkinson’s disease with fluctuating mobility [1,2] and has become applicable to treat many other diseases [3]. The impulses are generated by a neurostimulator that is implanted under the skin (below the clavicle) and is connected by extension wires to the electrodes. Continuous technical advancements in DBS systems, as well as improvements in medical imaging techniques, are contributing to the immense development potential of this treatment modality. The overall goal is to provide the patient with an optimal therapy
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