Direct visualization of microwires in hybrid depth electrodes using high-resolution photon-counting CT

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Hybrid depth electrodes, including Behnke-Fried (BF) electrodes with microwires, are vital for epilepsy monitoring and neurophysiology.
• Conventional CT and MRI lack the resolution to visualize individual microwires, hindering accurate implantation and research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate a novel high-resolution imaging method for visualizing individual microwires within hybrid depth electrodes.
• To demonstrate the utility of this technique for improving the accuracy of electrode implantation and guiding future neuroscientific research.

Main Methods:

• Utilized high-resolution photon-counting CT (PCCT) for direct visualization of individual microwires.
• Coregistered PCCT scans with preoperative MRI to precisely locate microwires within cortical and subcortical areas.

Main Results:

• Achieved the first direct visualization of individual microwires using PCCT.
• Demonstrated accurate depiction of microwire placement within the brain, offering feedback on implantation accuracy.

Conclusions:

• PCCT offers a significant advancement in visualizing hybrid depth electrodes for neuroscientific research.
• This technique has the potential to enhance the precision of brain electrode implantation and guide future research in epilepsy and neurophysiology.