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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Microelectrode Guided Implantation of Electrodes into the Subthalamic Nucleus of Rats for Long-term Deep Brain Stimulation
Published on: October 2, 2015
Deep Brain Stimulation Lead Implantation Using a Customized Rapidly Manufactured Stereotactic Fixture with
Tyler J Ball1, Kevin D John2, Andrew M Donovan2
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Background:
The microTargetingTM MicrotableTM Platform is a novel stereotactic system that can be more rapidly fabricated than currently available 3D-printed alternatives. We present the first case series of patients who underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery guided by this platform and demonstrate its in vivo accuracy.
Methods:
Ten patients underwent DBS at a single institution by the senior author and 15 leads were placed. The mean age was 69.1 years; four were female. The ventralis intermedius nucleus was targeted for patients with essential tremor and the subthalamic nucleus was targeted for patients with Parkinson's disease.
Results:
Nine DBS leads in 6 patients were appropriately imaged to enable measurement of accuracy. The mean Euclidean electrode placement error (EPE) was 0.97 ± 0.37 mm, and the mean radial error was 0.80 ± 0.41 mm (n = 9). In the subset of CT scans performed greater than 1 month postoperatively (n = 3), the mean Euclidean EPE was 0.75 ± 0.17 mm and the mean radial error was 0.69 ± 0.17 mm. There were no surgical complications.
Conclusion:
The MicrotableTM platform is capable of submillimetric accuracy in patients undergoing stereotactic surgery. It has achieved clinical efficacy in our patients without surgical complications and has demonstrated the potential for superior accuracy compared to both traditional stereotactic frames and other common frameless systems.
