Our neurophysiologists receive the most comprehensive training in the industry and gain hands on experience at some of the most respected DBS centers in the country. Our expertise provides the most experienced staff available, resulting in improved patient outcomes and reduced OR time.
DBS treats the symptoms of a number of movement and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The success of DBS therapy depends upon accurate placement of the DBS lead, which allows maximal treatment benefit and battery life with minimal stimulation-induced side effects. Intraoperative microelectrode recording and stimulation-mapping allows the identification of deep brain structures that are not fully resolved in CT or MRI image sequences. Our neurophysiologists provide expert technical interpretation of this information to help guide the surgeon to the optimal location to implant the permanent DBS lead. One in every 6 DBS leads in the U.S. in guided into place by our team. Our extensive experience and specialized training in DBS mapping protocols ensure that patients have the best outcomes possible.
Microelectrode mapping involves the insertion of temporary micro recording electrodes into the brain with the goal of identifying the unique neurophysiological signature of anatomical structures targeted for DBS implantation.
To ensure the degree of accuracy needed to achieve optimal results, we use doctoral-level neurophysiologists with significant neurophysiological training and strong research credentials. Our staff receive additional theoretical and hands-on training in the specialized stereotactic systems, neurophysiology equipment, and mapping protocols used in DBS. This rigorous training ensures that surgeons receive the best guidance available without adding significant time to the DBS lead implant surgery.
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With the creation of SCOPE™, the SpecialtyCare Operative Procedural Registry, SpecialtyCare has developed the largest clinical database of its kind. Members of our team analyze case data and share the findings with our clinical partners so that trends in clinical practice can be shared with surgeons and OR teams across the nation, which also brings innovation at the local level. SpecialtyCare is able to provide this data due to the large volume of DBS patients we serve every year.
The academic experience of our staff also help advance the clinical practice of DBS. All of our DBS staff have academic training in Neuroscience, and many of them hold faculty positions at prestigious universities. This academic focus has allowed our staff to use their educational training to contribute to ongoing research projects in the field and add to the literature through publication of papers in peer-reviewed literature.
Click here for a selected list of staff publications.