Deep Brain Sensor

Deep brain stimulation, for treating Parkinson’s disease, works even if it’s not known how.  But to answer that question, neurosurgeons and engineers at the Mayo Clinic have developed a chemical sensor that accompanies the stimulating electrode and can determine the release of dopamine and serotonin.  Moreover, the device has a Bluetooth module that transmits the chemical data wirelessly in real time. While this could translate into more effective therapies, it’s well enough now to have a better understanding of how the brain functions.  MORE

Image Credit:  Kendall H. Lee, MD, PhD, director of Mayo Neural Engineering Laboratories, and Kevin Bennet, Chair of Mayo Division of Engineering and Technology Review