Calibration of clinical cerebellar and deep brain stimulation systems.

Abstract

The increasing use of electrical stimulation of the brain for relief of pain, spasticity and epilepsy has introduced unfamiliar techniques into clinical neurological and neurosurgical practice. In view of the evidence that excessive levels of stimulation can damage brain tissue, it is of great importance to monitor the dose of stimulation. Apparently many centers do not measure the dose accurately, relying on arbitrary dial settings on external transmitters. The factors that affect the dose received by the patient were reviewed, along with suggestions of methods of measuring them, at operation and subsequently, which should routinely be employed by clinicans implanting stimulators.