A UK hospital is one of just four in the world to implant an innovative brain device in Parkinson’s patients that has been shown to help relieve movement disorder symptoms by up to 80 per cent. NR Times meets the neurosurgeon involved.

The brain stimulation device – Brainsense – consisting of implanted wires in the brain that attach to a monitor in the chest, enables two-way communication with the brain for real-time adjustments to stimulation parameters.

Patients who have received the implant have experienced up to 80 per cent symptom relief and improved quality of life.

Neurosurgeons at Newcastle RVI Hospital are collaborating with device developers, Medtronic, to enable access for patients, and have developed the Newcastle Process Algorithm to refine how brain signals are interpreted. The hospital is one of only four in the world that are currently carrying out implants of the device.

Speaking to NR Times, consultant neurosurgeon Akbar Hussain, of Newcastle RVI Hospital, said: “As functional neurosurgeons, our role involves implanting two fine wires into a specific area deep within the brain – either the Globus Pallidus or the Subthalamic Nucleus, both of which are part of the brain’s inner circuitry.

“These wires are used to help alleviate symptoms of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, or essential tremor. By delivering electrical impulses to these delicate regions, we can significantly reduce some of the debilitating symptoms experienced by patients.”

Hussain explains that the implant procedure is highly precise, but minimally invasive and very safe, with the surgeons using an extremely accurate system to implant the wires into a tiny target area – roughly the size of a grain of rice.

Once the wires are positioned correctly, the surgeons tunnel the leads under the skin to a small device implanted just beneath the collarbone on the chest wall, with the chest device functioning like a pacemaker, delivering carefully controlled electrical impulses to the brain.

“Each patient responds differently, so programming the device is a meticulous process,” says Hussain.

“It’s somewhat like tuning a radio, but far more complex. We must determine the optimal frequency, impulse strength, and pulse width for each individual to achieve the best possible outcome. With the right adjustments, we can typically reduce symptoms by around 80 per cent in most patients.”

While deep brain stimulation technology has been in use for over 25 years, until recently, interfaces have been a one-way system, delivering impulses to the brain without receiving feedback.

This new brain stimulation device now enables clinicians to collect feedback – recording brain activity in addition to delivering stimulation, marking a significant advancement in brain stimulation treatment.

“This new technology allows us not only to stimulate the brain to deliver therapy but also to read signals from the brain,” explains Hussain.

“Now, I can access a history of the patient’s brain activity and adjust their settings accordingly. It works in a similar way to glucose monitoring in diabetes. If a diabetic person’s glucose levels rise too high, they increase their insulin dose, and if the levels drop too low, they reduce it.

“This system follows the same principle – if the brain signals we are monitoring rise above a certain threshold, the device can automatically increase stimulation to bring them back down. If the signals drop too low, the system can reduce stimulation accordingly, maintaining a more stable state.”

With the device, the clinicians are also now able to set thresholds that allow the system to self-adjust based on the parameters programmed for the patient.

Hussain explains that this is a huge advancement, noting that research has shown that symptoms correlate with the readings obtained from the brain, meaning the system does not need to be programmed to adjust based on time frames. Instead, the device can respond directly to changes in brain signals.

“In the past, we could only set an average stimulation level based on a single point in time – whether it was for that day, that week, or even a six-week period. We would set what we believed was the best configuration at the time and then send the patient away until their next appointment.

“With this new system, we can go much further. We might achieve 80 per cent symptom relief, but now we can fine-tune the therapy by asking more specific questions. For example, is sleep affecting their symptoms? Do they feel worse just before taking their medication?

“Now, I can zoom in on specific times of day and review real-time data to see if adjustments are needed. This means I can modulate the therapy throughout the day to improve their symptoms at different times, making the treatment much more individualised and responsive to their needs.

“Ultimately, this technology allows the system to adapt dynamically to the patient’s condition, rather than forcing them to stick to fixed settings that may not be optimal at all times.

“If the brain signal remains stable, no adjustment is made. The system only intervenes when the patient actually needs it,” says Hussain.

“This is not simply a scheduled, pre-set response. It continuously adapts in real time, using live data from the brain. That is what makes this technology the next step forward – it is truly responsive rather than relying on a fixed timetable.”

As well as providing real-time data feedback, Hussain explains that the device also improves battery efficiency by reducing unnecessary energy use, meaning patients will need to charge it less often, and enhances daily functionality such as easier movement in the mornings or reduced stiffness after work.

So far, six patients at the hospital have received the new adaptive system, and it will now be gradually rolled out, starting with select sites in the UK and Germany, to ensure proper support from Medtronic engineers during early implementation.

Hussain says that, if the initial rollout is successful, the system could be expanded to more centres across the UK, improving access to this advanced therapy and paving the way for its application for other indications such as dystonia and epilepsy.