Medtronic DBS therapy for Epilepsy

Restore hope for patients with medically refractory Epilepsy

Together, we can offer your patients who have not responded adequately to drug treatment a therapy clinically proven to significantly reduce the frequency of seizures, restoring their hope for improved quality of life. Additionally, Medtronic gives you the first safe* access to MRI anywhere on the body for diagnosing health conditions in patients with deep brain stimulation.

Bilateral anterior thalamic nucleus stimulation using the Medtronic DBS System for Epilepsy is indicated as adjunctive therapy for reducing the frequency of seizures in individuals 18 years of age or older diagnosed with epilepsy characterized by partial-onset seizures, with or without secondary generalization, that are refractory to three or more antiepileptic medications.  

The Medtronic DBS System for Epilepsy has demonstrated safety and effectiveness in patients who average 6 or more seizures per month over the three most recent months prior to implant of the DBS system (with no more than 30 days between seizures), and has not been evaluated in patients with less frequent seizures.

Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation for Epilepsy is an effective and well-established therapy with proven results:

• DBS significantly reduces the frequency of seizures in adults with medically refractory partial-onset epilepsy.¹
• DBS significantly reduces patients’ most severe seizures, complex partial seizures, and incidence of epilepsy-related injury.¹
• Long-term, patients who have tried VNS showed improvement in seizure frequency with DBS.¹
• Long-term, patients who have tried resective surgery showed improvement in seizure frequency with DBS.¹
• DBS improves long-term quality of life.¹

Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation for Epilepsy targets the anterior nucleus of the thalamus (ANT), part of a network in the brain involved in the generation and propagation of seizures. Leads implanted bilaterally in the ANT provide controlled electrical stimulation to modulate the network.

Clinician Programmer

The DBS clinician programmer is now even more feature-rich and ready to streamline your programming session with the information you need, quickly and intuitively.

• High-contrast touchscreen interface
• Enhanced task-based workflows
• Patient-specific customization options
• Expanded reporting and export functionality

Patient Programmer

The DBS patient programmer is enhanced so patients can more easily and conveniently engage with their therapy.

The DBS system is implanted using stereotactic targeting techniques. There are two parts to the surgery. Leads are placed bilaterally in the anterior nucleus of the thalamus using two small entry points, and lead extensions are tunneled behind the ear. The neurostimulator is implanted under the skin in the upper chest and is connected to the lead extensions.

The duration of the procedure and the specific steps involved can vary. Unlike Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor where the patient is to remain awake during lead-implant surgery, the epilepsy procedure is performed with the patient under general anesthesia because intraoperative test stimulation is not required.

In situations when Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation for Epilepsy is not tolerated, the system can be turned off or fully explanted. Unlike resective surgery, DBS therapy does not involve removal of brain tissue.

Placing the DBS system requires brain surgery, which could have serious and even fatal complications including coma, bleeding inside the brain, stroke, seizures, and infection. Once implanted, the system may become infected, parts may wear through the skin, and the lead and/or extension connector may move. Medtronic DBS Therapy could stop suddenly because of mechanical or electrical problems. Any of these situations may require additional surgery or cause symptoms to return or worsen.

In patients receiving Medtronic DBS Therapy, depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide have been reported.

This therapy is not for everyone. This therapy should not be used for patients who will be exposed to diathermy (deep heat treatment) or transcranial magnetic stimulation. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) should only be performed as described in the product labeling. The DBS system may interact with other medical devices and electromagnetic interference.

In addition to the risks and side effects related to DBS therapy, the following side effects can occur with DBS Therapy for Epilepsy: status epilepticus and changes in seizures (new seizure type or worsening seizures such as increased seizure frequency, duration, and/or severity).

This material is for Healthcare Professionals in countries with applicable health authority product registrations.

Important: Always refer to the Instructions For Use (IFU) packaged with the product/e-IFU for complete instructions, indications, contraindications, warnings, and precautions.