Automated 3-dimensional brain atlas fitting to microelectrode recordings from deep brain stimulation surgeries.
OBJECTIVE
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgeries commonly rely on brain atlases and microelectrode recordings (MER) to help identify the target location for electrode implantation. We present an automated method for optimally fitting a 3-dimensional brain atlas to intraoperative MER and predicting a target DBS electrode location in stereotactic coordinates for the patient.


METHODS
We retrospectively fit a 3-dimensional brain atlas to MER points from 10 DBS surgeries targeting the subthalamic nucleus (STN). We used a constrained optimization algorithm to maximize the MER points correctly fitted (i.e., contained) within the appropriate atlas nuclei. We compared our optimization approach to conventional anterior commissure-posterior commissure (AC/PC) scaling, and to manual fits performed by four experts. A theoretical DBS electrode target location in the dorsal STN was customized to each patient as part of the fitting process and compared to the location of the clinically defined therapeutic stimulation contact.


RESULTS
The human expert and computer optimization fits achieved significantly better fits than the AC/PC scaling (80, 81, and 41% of correctly fitted MER, respectively). However, the optimization fits were performed in less time than the expert fits and converged to a single solution for each patient, eliminating interexpert variance.


CONCLUSIONS
DBS therapeutic outcomes are directly related to electrode implantation accuracy. Our automated fitting techniques may aid in the surgical decision-making process by optimally integrating brain atlas and intraoperative neurophysiological data to provide a visual guide for target identification.
Luján
J Luis
JL
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, USA.
Noecker
Angela M
AM
Butson
Christopher R
CR
Cooper
Scott E
SE
Walter
Benjamin L
BL
Vitek
Jerrold L
JL
McIntyre
Cameron C
CC
D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012984:Software; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques