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Image Guided Neurologics Announces The World's First Interventional MRI Guided Deep Brain Stimulator Implant MELBOURNE, Fla./EWORLDWIRE/July 13, 2004 --- Image Guided Neurologics Inc. of Melbourne is pleased to announce the world's first interventional MRI-guided deep brain stimulator implants, performed by a neurosurgical team at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco. These implantations utilized a patented guidance and delivery technology, the NEXFRAME(TM) by IGN, and they were supported by the Philips Gyroscan Intera by Philips Medical Systems BV. Interventional MRI, or 'iMRI,' is a technology used to image inside a patient during surgery. Conventional MRI scanners are used to image inside a patient for diagnoses and evaluations of medical conditions. The NEXFRAME by IGN adds the ability within an iMRI to align to a desired target location anywhere in the brain, and to deliver a deep brain stimulator electrode to that specific brain target with a high degree of accuracy. Deep brain stimulation is a promising surgical treatment for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. The traditional surgical approach to implanting the neurostimulating electrode involves placing a stereotactic head frame on a patient to serve as a platform for guiding the electrode to the target deep within the brain. This stereotactic head frame is a cumbersome device that is pinned to the patient's skull and is often considered the most uncomfortable portion of the procedure. The NEXFRAME by IGN replaces the comparably heavy frame with a small disposable guidance device that attaches directly to the skull during surgery. Unlike traditional deep brain stimulation surgery performed with the patient awake, the NEXFRAME technique is performed with the patient under general anesthesia. This greatly enhances patient comfort and safety. Also, the iMRI allows the surgeon to image the brain as the NEXFRAME is aligned to the target within the brain. The portion of the brain that is intended for stimulation by the electrode is about the size of a large pea and is situated deep within the brain. Using iMRI targeting allows the surgeon to see where the electrode will be delivered before insertion, to follow the electrode as it is advanced, and to verify the electrode location once it is in place. The iMRI technique is under development and could allow improvement upon the current microelectrode-guided approach. The NEXFRAME by IGN is a promising technology for "real time" imaging of anatomical targets within the brain. For more information on Parkinson's Disease and deep brain stimulator surgery, see the UCSF Neurosurgery web page at: http://neurosurgery.medschool.ucsf.edu/patient_care/movement.html For more information on the NEXFRAME(TM) and IGN please see the IGN web site: http://www.igneurologics.com HTML: http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/wr/071304/10435.htm PDF: http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/pdf/071304/10435.pdf ONLINE NEWSROOM: http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/2620.htm LOGO: http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/2620.htm CONTACT: Sandy Felgar Image-Guided Neurologics 2290 W. Eau Gallie Blvd. Melbourne, FL 32935 PHONE. 321-309-8218 EMAIL: [log in to unmask] http://www.igneurologics.com KEYWORDS: neurosurgery, frameless, image-guided, DBS, deep brain stimulation, neurostimulation, parkinson's, essential tremor, dystonia, navigus, nexframe, nexdrive, MRI, Ucsf , iMRI SOURCE: Image-Guided Neurologics AVAILABLE MEDIA: Photo: iMRI1 (size: 23.0 k) iMRI Targeting http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/media_uploads/press51_caption.jpg Photo: iMRI2 (size: 32.0 k) Electrode implanted in targeted section of brain. http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/media_uploads/press52_caption.jpg SOURCE: eworldwire http://newsroom.eworldwire.com/wr/071304/10435.htm * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn