Up to 45,000 epilepsy sufferers have now been treated with vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy using a platinum electrode.

The technology involves affixing an implanted pulse generator in the left side of patients' chests, which acts to stimulate the vagus nerve in the neck through use of a platinum iridium electrode which is wrapped around it.

Developed by Houston-based Cyberonics, the technology represents a further advance for the deep brain stimulation approach to treating neural diseases.

Reese Terry, Cyberonics engineer and temporary Chief Executive Officer, told Design News: "The advantage of stimulating the Vagus Nerve, which serves as the superhighway to the brain, is that it is easy to access and there is no penetration of neural tissues. It is also a relatively easy system to implant and program."

Cyberonics, which has been granted wide-reaching patents in the field of neurostimulation for treating epilepsy, has announced it plans to adapt the technology for treatment of depression.

Epilepsy is estimated to affect some 50 million people worldwide, with recent studies showing that around half of those treated with VNS therapy report an improvement in the condition and a reduction in seizures.

Sources:

Neurostimulation Comes of Age, 14/05/07
http://www.designnews.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA6439666&industryid=43652

Information on epilepsy: VNS - vagus nerve stimulation,
http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk/pages/info/leaflets/factsvns.cfm

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