Medtronic's Adaptive DBS: A Game Changer for Parkinson's Patients

Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology, has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its BrainSense™ Adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) system, a significant advancement in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. This innovative closed-loop system self-adjusts DBS therapy to individual brain activity in real time, marking the largest commercial launch of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to date.



The adaptive DBS system, integrated into Medtronic's Percept™ DBS neurostimulators, uses exclusive BrainSense™ Adaptive technology to personalize therapy based on a patient's brain activity in real time, both in clinical settings and daily life. This feature provides enhanced therapy personalization for symptom control, automatically adjusting stimulation parameters to minimize the need for manual adjustments by patients.

The Medtronic Adaptive DBS Algorithm for Personalized Therapy in Parkinson's Disease (ADAPT-PD) trial highlighted the potential of aDBS in clinical practice. This international, multi-center, prospective, single-blind, randomized crossover study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of chronic dual- and single-threshold aDBS modes compared to continuous DBS (cDBS) for eligible patients with Parkinson's disease receiving DBS therapy. The study, conducted in both clinical and home settings, was developed in collaboration with more than a dozen world-renowned neurologists and neurosurgeons from leading academic institutions across the globe.

Dr. Helen Bronte-Stewart, MD MSE, FAAN, FANA, John E. Cahill Family Professor in the department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences and Director of the Human Motor Control and Neuromodulation Lab at Stanford University School of Medicine, stated, "Adaptive deep brain stimulation will help revolutionize the approach to therapeutic treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease. The transformative personalized care we can achieve through automatic adjustment greatly benefits patients receiving therapy that adapts to their evolving needs."

The FDA approval also includes the BrainSense Electrode Identifier (EI), which helps reduce the amount of time patients need to spend in the clinic to calibrate their DBS settings by displaying their personal neural activity. This feature can lead to more accurate and precise initial programming, up to 85% faster than traditional electrode selection methods.

With more than 40,000 DBS patients served worldwide with Medtronic Percept™ devices, BrainSense™ Adaptive DBS presents the largest commercial launch (by several magnitudes) of BCI technology ever. This significant advancement in Parkinson's disease treatment has the potential to improve the quality of life for countless patients and set a new standard for DBS therapy.

In conclusion, Medtronic's adaptive DBS system represents a major breakthrough in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, offering real-time personalized therapy and improved symptom control. As the largest commercial launch of BCI technology to date, this innovation is poised to transform the neurostimulation market and provide new hope for patients living with Parkinson's.