DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation), known as “Brain Pacemaker”, is an advanced surgical method that regulates disrupted neural activity by sending electrical signals through electrodes placed in specific regions of the brain.
We can compare this process to a cardiac pacemaker; however, in this case, instead of the heart, the pacemaker sends signals to the brain to regulate its “electrical traffic.”
What is DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation)?
The DBS system consists of three main components:
- Electrodes: These are very thin wires placed inside the brain, precisely within millimetric regions responsible for movement control.
- Pulse Generator (IPG): Generally placed under the chest muscle or just below the collarbone. This main unit provides the energy and electrical signals.
- Extension Cables: These are connecting wires that link the pulse generator to the electrodes in the brain, running beneath the skin.
The system is designed to be externally programmable; the doctor can adjust the intensity and frequency of the current delivered by the device via remote control, according to the patient’s specific needs.
What Does It Do and Who Is It For?
DBS works by “resetting” or suppressing the disorganized electrical signals within the brain. It is most commonly preferred in the following conditions:
- Parkinson’s Disease: To gain control over symptoms such as tremors, slowness of movement, and rigidity.
- Essential Tremor: In the treatment of uncontrollable hand or body tremors.
- Dystonia: For involuntary muscle contractions and postural deformities.
- OCD and Epilepsy: In certain resistant psychiatric cases and for seizure control (subject to specific criteria).
Technological Advantages
The greatest advantage of brain pacemaker technology compared to other brain surgeries is that it is “reversible and adjustable”:
- Causes No Permanent Damage: In older methods, brain tissue was destroyed by burning; in DBS, no tissue damage is inflicted, and the area is merely stimulated with electricity.
- Personalized Tuning: As the disease progresses or the patient’s needs change, the device’s settings can be updated externally.
- Quality of Life: Especially during periods when medications become insufficient or cause severe side effects, it enables patients to perform daily tasks (walking, eating, writing) on their own.
Surgical Process
One of the most interesting aspects of this technology is that the patient is usually awake while the electrodes are being placed. To ensure the correct outcome at the insertion point, the surgeon speaks with the patient, asks them to move their hand, and observes in real-time whether the tremor stops. The patient is then put to sleep during the stage where the pulse generator is implanted in the chest area.
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