Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
Stereo-Electro-Encephalo-Graphy (SEEG) With Robotic Assistance in the Presurgical Evaluation of Medical Refractory Epilepsy: A Technical Note
Published on: June 13, 2016
Implantation of a responsive neurostimulator device in patients with refractory epilepsy
William S Anderson1, Eric H Kossoff, Gregory K Bergey
1Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. wsanderson@partners.org
Object:
The authors summarize one center's experience with a novel device, the Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS) system, which is used to treat seizures, and they provide technical details regarding the implantation procedure.
Methods:
The authors reviewed seizure detection, cortical stimulation, and clinical data obtained in 7 patients in whom the RNS system was implanted. Data pertaining to seizure alteration are provided for the first 4 implant-treated patients. The implantation procedure in the case of one patient with occipital lobe heterotopia is included.
Results:
Based on patients' seizure diaries, the implanted devices functioned at a high sensitivity for clinical seizure detection. Reductions in seizure frequency, based on their diaries and on clinic follow-up notes, ranged from 50 to 75%. No adverse stimulation-induced side effects were noted, and no hardware malfunctions requiring explantation occurred. Generator replacements for battery depletion were required at 11, 17, and 20 months in 3 patients. The implantation procedure was well tolerated, and postoperative hospital stays were short. A revision cranioplasty for a skull defect was performed in the index patient, whose case will be discussed in the most detail.
Conclusions:
The results obtained in this small preliminary series demonstrate a safe implantation method for the responsive neurostimulation device.
