Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): A Therapeutic Analysis

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure used to treat a variety of disabling neurological symptoms, most commonly symptoms, of Parkinson’s disease. This specific procedure is used to treat individuals whose symptoms cannot be controlled my medication alone (Breit et al, 2004). DBS uses a surgically implanted, battery-operated medical device called an implantable pulse generator (IPG) to deliver electrical stimulation to specific areas in the brain that control movement, thus blocking the abnormal nerve signals that cause PD symptoms(Breit et al, 2004).
The DBS system consists of three components: the lead, the extension, and the IPG. “The lead” is a very thin insulated wire that is inserted into the brain through an opening in