A group of researchers has created a new technique for diagnosing, managing, and treating neurological disorders that limits the need for invasive surgery.
A team of researchers, spearheaded by Jacob Robinson from Rice University and Peter Kan from the University of Texas Medical Branch, has developed a minimally invasive technique for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of neurological disorders. Their research findings were published in Nature Biomedical Engineering on November 11.
Typically, methods that connect with the nervous system involve drilling into the skull to interact with the brain. However, these researchers have introduced a revolutionary technique called endocisternal interfaces (ECI). This method enables electrical recording and stimulation of neural structures, including both the brain and spinal cord, using the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).
Robinson, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and bioengineering, stated, “With ECI, we can reach various brain and spinal cord areas at the same time without needing to open the skull, significantly decreasing the chances of complications that usually come with conventional surgical methods.”
ECI utilizes the CSF, which encases the nervous system, as a route for placing specialized devices. By performing a straightforward lumbar puncture in the lower back, researchers can maneuver a flexible catheter to access both the brain and spinal cord.
The entire wireless system employs miniature magnetoelectric-powered bioelectronics, which can be introduced via a small percutaneous procedure. The flexible catheters can be easily guided from the spinal subarachnoid space to the brain’s ventricles.
Kan, a professor and the Robert L. Moody Sr. Chair of Neurosurgery at UTMB, remarked, “This technique is the first of its kind, allowing a neural interface to access the brain and spinal cord simultaneously through a simple and minimally invasive lumbar puncture. It opens up new opportunities for treatments in stroke rehabilitation, epilepsy monitoring, and various other neurological applications.”
To verify their theory, the research team examined the endocisternal space and measured the width of the subarachnoid space in human subjects using magnetic resonance imaging. They also carried out tests on large animal models, particularly sheep, to ensure the new neural interface’s viability.
Results from their experiments indicated that the catheter electrodes could be effectively delivered and positioned in the brain’s ventricular spaces and surface for electrical stimulation. With the magnetoelectric implant, the researchers successfully recorded physiological signals like muscle activation and spinal cord potentials.
Initial safety assessments revealed that the ECI remained effective with minimal damage for up to 30 days after the device was implanted in the brain.
Furthermore, the research indicated that, unlike endovascular neural interfaces that necessitate antithrombotic medication and are constrained by the dimensions and locations of blood vessels, ECI provides greater access to neural targets without requiring such medications.
Josh Chen, a Rice alumnus and the study’s lead author, expressed, “This technology marks a new milestone for minimally invasive neural interfaces, potentially reducing the risks associated with implantable neurotechnologies and expanding access to a broader patient population.”
