A low-cost solution for quantification of movement during DBS surgery

Abstract

Background: During the deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrode implantation operation with microelectrode recordings (MER) in awake patients, somatotopic testing and test stimulation are performed to improve electrode placement and provide the most beneficial symptom reduction possible, while minimizing side effects. As this procedure is commonly used to alleviate abnormal movements associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Essential Tremor (ET), intraoperative assessment of a patient's movements is critical to optimizing surgical benefit. However, despite its importance, movement assessment is typically subjective and qualitative.

New method: Here, we present a detailed description of a low-cost, open-source system as a solution.

Results: The described system measures movements intraoperatively and in synchrony with neurophysiological recordings for both online visualization and offline analysis.

Comparison with existing method(s): Few movement quantification systems are designed to interface with intraoperative neurophysiological recordings; the widespread application of such systems may be limited by their cost and proprietary, closed-source nature. The system presented provides a low-cost, open-source alternative.

Conclusions: The system outlined in this work may improve the DBS procedure by adding valuable objectivity in movement quantification.

Keywords: Deep brain stimulation; Movement quantification; Neurophysiology; Parkinson’s disease; Somatotopy; Tremor.