A critical reflection on the technological development of deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Ineichen C; Glannon W; Temel Y; Baumann CR; Sürücü O

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00730

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Journal article

A critical reflection on the technological development of deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Ineichen C Institute of Biomedical Ethics, University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland.
Glannon W Department of Philosophy, University of Calgary Calgary, CGY, Canada.
Temel Y Department of Neurosurgery, Maastricht University Medical Center Maastricht, Netherlands.
Baumann CR Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich Zurich, Switzerland.
Sürücü O Division of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Zurich Zurich, Switzerland.

2014-10-04

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Frontiers in human neuroscience. - 2014

English Since the translational research findings of Benabid and colleagues which partly led to their seminal paper regarding the treatment of mainly tremor-dominant Parkinson patients through thalamic high-frequency-stimulation (HFS) in 1987, we still struggle with identifying a satisfactory mechanistic explanation of the underlying principles of deep brain stimulation (DBS). Furthermore, the technological advance of DBS devices (electrodes and implantable pulse generators, IPG's) has shown a distinct lack of dynamic progression. In light of this we argue that it is time to leave the paleolithic age and enter hellenistic times: the device-manufacturing industry and the medical community together should put more emphasis on advancing the technology rather than resting on their laurels.

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