title: Microelectrode recording duration and spatial density constraints for automatic targeting of the subthalamic nucleus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Accurate detection of the boundaries of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery using microelectrode recording (MER) is considered to refine localization and may therefore improve clinical outcome. However, MER tends to extend operation time and its cost-utility balance has been debated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the tradeoff between accuracy of STN localization and the spatial and temporal parameters of MER that effect the operation time using an automated detection method.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively estimated the accuracy of STN detection on data from 100 microelectrode trajectories. Our dense (average step = 0.12 mm) and long (average duration = 22.5 s) MER data was downsampled in the spatial and temporal domains. Then, the STN borders were detected automatically on both the downsampled and original data and compared to each other.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a recording duration of 16 s, average accuracy for detecting STN entry ranged from 0.06 mm for a 0.1-mm step to 0.51 mm for a 1.0-mm step. Smaller effects were found along the temporal axis. For example, a 0.1-mm recording step yielded an STN entry average accuracy ranging from 0.06 mm for a 16-second recording duration to 0.16 mm for 0.1 s.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  STN entry detection error was about half of the step size. Sampling duration of STN activity can be minimized to 1 s/record without compromising accuracy. We conclude that bilateral DBS surgery time utilizing MER may be significantly shortened without compromising targeting accuracy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Neurobiology (Physiology), Institute of Medical Research, Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel. shamir.ruby@gmail.com
authors.forename: Reuben R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Shamir
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaidel
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joskowicz
authors.forename: Hagai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Israel
mesh_terms: D057205:Automation, Laboratory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008839:Microelectrodes; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020531:Subthalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors