Responsive Electrical Stimulation Suppresses Epileptic Seizures in Rats

BACKGROUND: A responsive electrical stimulation pattern based on our recently developed novel seizure prediction method was designed to suppress the penicillin-induced epileptic seizures. METHODOLOGY: Seizures were induced by Penicillin injection at rat cortex. A responsive electrical stimulation system was triggered prior to seizures predicted with phase synchronisation. Rats with induced seizures were stimulated by the electrical pulses at a responsive or 1 Hz periodic pattern of an open system. The effectiveness of stimulation on seizures suppression was assessed by measuring the average number and duration of seizures per hour. RESULTS: The prediction algorithm reliably identified seizures in real time and triggered the responsive stimulation. This type of electrical stimulation dramatically suppressed seizure activity and the performance was better than the open stimulation system with fewer and shorter seizures. CONCLUSIONS: A responsive electrical stimulation system triggered by the phase synchronisation prediction is able to significantly suppress seizures. SIGNIFICANCE: Responsive electrical stimulation could achieve superior treatment performance and reduce power consumption and side effects.