Realistic Biophysical Modeling of Deep Brain Stimulation

描述(申请人提供)：脑深部刺激(DBS)已迅速成为治疗难治性运动障碍的既定疗法。然而，目前用于电极靶向和刺激参数选择的DBS技术不能解释神经刺激的生物物理学。我们目前正在开发一种集成的针对患者的建模方法，将为临床医生提供对刺激过程中激活的组织体积的真实估计。这些模型中有各种基本假设，这些假设的效果尚不清楚。这项研究的主要假设是，大脑的3D传导性和电极-组织界面的电容在DBS的神经反应中都起着基础性的作用。我们将在3D有限元模型的帮助下评估这些生物物理特征的影响，该模型将详细的脑形态、组织传导性和电极属性与创新的傅立叶有限元解算器集成在一起。该系统有可能通过改进靶点和轨迹选择，减少手术时间，最大限度地增加刺激效益，同时将副作用降至最低，从而改善患者的预后。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has quickly emerged as an established therapy for the treatment of medically refractory movement disorders. However, current DBS techniques for electrode targeting and stimulation parameter selection do not account for the biophysics of neural stimulation. We are currently developing an integrated patient-specific modeling approach that will provide the clinician with realistic estimates of the volume of tissue activated during stimulation. There are a variety of fundamental assumptions that are made in these models, and the effects of these assumptions are unclear. The principal hypothesis of this study is that the 3D conductivity of the brain and the capacitance of the electrode-tissue interface each play a fundamental role in the neural response to DBS. We will evaluate the effects of these biophysical features with the aid of a 3D finite element model (FEM) that integrates detailed brain morphology, tissue conductivity and electrode properties with an innovative Fourier FEM solver. This system has the potential to improve patient outcomes by improving target and trajectory selection, reducing time in surgery, and maximizing stimulation benefit while minimizing side effects.