Microtextured surfaces for deep-brain stimulation electrodes: a biologically inspired design to reduce lead migration

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a crucial treatment for neurological disorders.
• Hardware complications, particularly electrode migration, pose significant risks in DBS surgery.
• Postoperative electrode migration can lead to adverse effects and reduced therapeutic efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of microtextured surfaces on DBS probes in minimizing electrode migration.
• To evaluate the impact of microtexturing on brain tissue displacement and damage.
• To explore a novel approach for enhancing DBS lead stability.

Main Methods:

• A DBS lead with microtextured strips was implanted in ex vivo porcine brain.
• A fiberoptic displacement sensor measured local brain tissue displacement.
• The porcine head underwent simulated brain shift by rotating between supine and upright postures.

Main Results:

• Microtextured strips significantly reduced brain displacement (77 μm) compared to standard DBS leads (326 μm) during simulated brain shift.
• Triangular toothed strips with 250 μm protrusion demonstrated superior tissue grip.
• Microtextured surfaces resulted in less extensive brain tissue disruption upon removal.

Conclusions:

• Microtextured strips provide an anchoring effect on brain tissue, effectively reducing DBS lead migration.
• This surface modification offers a promising strategy to improve DBS hardware stability.
• The findings suggest a method to mitigate DBS complications without causing additional tissue damage.