Surgical Robot-Enhanced Implantation of Intracranial Depth Electrodes for Single Neuron Recording Studies in Patients with Medically Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note

Abstract

Single neuron or unit recording enables researchers to measure the electrophysiologic responses of single neurons using a microelectrode system. This approach is widely used in cognitive science and has become more widespread in humans with the use of hybrid (micro-within-macrowire) depth electrodes that enable the implantation of microwires into the brain parenchyma. The authors describe their surgical technique in a total of 7 patients with intractable epilepsywho underwent robot-enhanced stereoencephalography in which both standard (nonhybrid) and hybrid depth electrodes were used for invasive chronic monitoring. The technique and accuracy of the procedure were evaluated with a total of 84 depth electrodes (46 hybrid, 38 standard) in 7 patients. No major complications, such as intracranial hemorrhage, infection or cerebrospinal fluid leakage, occurred regardless of the type of electrode used. The addition of hybrid depth electrodes for the purpose of invivo single neuron recording in robot-enhanced stereoencephalography procedures is safe and does not impact the accuracy of targeting or patient safety.