Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
08:23
A Multimodal Imaging- and Stimulation-based Method of Evaluating Connectivity-related Brain Excitability in Patients with Epilepsy
Published on: November 13, 2016
11.6K
The RNS System: brain-responsive neurostimulation for the treatment of epilepsy
Beata Jarosiewicz1, Martha Morrell1,2
1NeuroPace, Inc, Mountain View, CA, USA.
Expert Review of Medical Devices
|September 16, 2020
Summary
Brain-responsive neurostimulation offers a safe alternative for epilepsy patients unresponsive to medication. The RNS System records brain activity and delivers stimulation to normalize seizures, with potential for other neurological disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neurotechnology
Background:
- Epilepsy affects over 1% of the US population, with many adults unresponsive to antiseizure medications.
- Over 30% of adults with epilepsy experience medication side effects.
- Surgical resection is not feasible for many due to potential neurological or cognitive harm.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the NeuroPace RNS System, a brain-responsive neurostimulation device.
- To present results from multi-year clinical trials of the RNS System.
- To highlight research discoveries from chronic ambulatory brain data collected by the RNS System.
Main Methods:
- The RNS System records neural activity from seizure foci.
- The device detects epileptiform activity based on physician-defined parameters.
- Brief electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to normalize detected activity.
Main Results:
- The RNS System is the only FDA-approved brain-responsive neurostimulation device.
- Multi-year clinical trials demonstrate its effectiveness and safety.
- Chronic ambulatory brain data has led to significant research discoveries.
Conclusions:
- Brain-responsive neurostimulation is a viable, nondestructive alternative for epilepsy treatment.
- The RNS System has the potential to treat other episodic neurological disorders with biomarkers.
- Integrating machine learning with RNS data could create a precision medicine platform.
