Brain Mapping Software Developed to Treat Parkinson's Disease

Developed in collaboration with leading neurosurgeons worldwide, new software maps the trajectories and targets used for treatment of functional neurologic disorders including Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp. (Plainsboro, NJ, USA) has announced that its subsidiary, Integra Radionics, released a major upgrade for the NeuroSight Arc module of the OmniSight EXcel image-guided system.

"The latest system from Integra Radionics allows me to quickly and accurately visualize and plan tumor and functional neurosurgery procedures,” said Dr. James Schumacher, a leading Parkinson's surgeon from Sarasota, FL, USA. "I search for the most accurate, reliable, and safe equipment for my patients, and this is the best system for functional neurosurgery on the market.”

The software contains digital brain maps that are overlaid with the patient scans to guide the neurosurgeon procedures. The new version improves this alignment with more patient-specific adjustments. It also enhances the resolution of the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patient scans used for targeting, increases compatibility with the Integra Radionics CRW stereotactic system, and adds several advancements in the graphic user interface for superior ease-of-use planning.

Worldwide prevalence of movement disorders is estimated at over four million individuals, and demand is increasing for effective therapies to delay disease progression and improve patient's lives. When medication is ineffective, severe movement disorders may respond to deep brain surgery (DBS), which places precisely located implantable electrodes within the brain to deliver electrical impulses to counteract the tremors. The electrodes are connected to a neurostimulator, or pacemaker, which is implanted under the patient's collarbone. The worldwide movement disorders therapeutics market is currently estimated at over US$2 billion and is expected to reach approximately $4 billion by 2009.

The surgery to position the electrode in the brain involves high-definition diagnostic images of each patient, usually through the use of MRI and CT scans. These images are then transferred to the OmniSight EXcel image-guided surgery system for pre-surgical planning, which produces precise coordinates of the target for the CRW stereotactic system. The CRW system is a medical device that allows for very precise targeting and placement of the electrode within the brain.


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