Deep Brain Stimulation

Improving symptoms of Parkinson's disease, essential tremor and dystonia.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is like a pacemaker for the brain. The tiny device is implanted by the specialized neurosurgeons at Inova Parkinson's and Movement Disorders Center and then programmed by our movement disorders specialists. The device delivers a carefully controlled stimulation of electricity to precisely targeted areas. The electric stimulation interrupts the brain's faulty signals and provides measurable relief to symptoms, allowing for a significant reduction in medications and an improvement in quality of life.

Am I a Candidate For DBS?

For Parkinson's Disease

If you have Parkinson's disease and meet the following criteria, DBS may be the right treatment option for you:

Experiencing moderate to severe symptoms
Fluctuations in symptoms during the day or side effects to the medication
Cognitively intact (no sign of dementia)
Overall healthy

For Essential Tremor or Dystonia

If you have essential tremor or dystonia and meet the following criteria, DBS may be right for you:

Moderate to severe symptoms or symptoms that are not adequately controlled with medication
Symptoms affecting daily activities such as eating, drinking, dressing or others
Cognitively intact (no sign of dementia)
Overall healthy

It is important to consider DBS before your disease is advanced. A consultation with a movement disorders specialist can help you understand the risks and benefits and determine whether you are a good candidate.

Adaptable to Meet Changing Needs

As your disease changes over time, the DBS device can be adjusted to better address new or increasing symptoms. Should new technology, procedures or treatments for Parkinson's disease be developed in the future, the device is also removable with little or no tissue damage.

Process for Implantation

Getting a DBS device is completed in three stages and usually occurs over a six-week period.

Implantation of the electrodes in our state-of-the-art surgical suite
Implantation of the neurostimulator
Programming of the device by our specialists

Remote Neuromodulation Clinic

Through a breakthrough technology called the NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic our providers can now connect with patients who have a DBS implant via a secure in-app video chat. The remote programming feature, available within the patient controller app, provides a simple and secure connection during which the clinician can prescribe treatment settings remotely to the patient's neurostimulation device. A DBS system requires a series of clinic trips to prepare for, implant and begin neurostimulation. Once the stimulation is started, it can take several appointments to find the setting that optimally improves symptoms. Additionally, patients will usually require two or three adjustments to the settings each year at their usual clinical visits.

Remote programming, with NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic, may be performed in any location where the patient has a cellular or Wi-Fi connection and a sufficiently charged patient controller, allowing DBS programming to become part of the telehealth virtual clinical visit.