Deep Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury

CT-DBS for Traumatic Brain Injury Using the Medtronic Activa PC+S System

This study involves the treatment of cognitive impairment secondary to moderate to severe brain injury using central thalamic deep brain stimulation. Although all patients will receive stimulation continuously through a surgically implanted pacemaker-like device, half of the patients will have the device deactivated during a blinded assessment phase. The device will be reactivated following this assessment and patients will have the option to continue stimulation in an open-label continuation.

This preliminary safety study evaluates the use of the Medtronic Activa PC+S system and Medtronic Nexus-E system for central thalamic deep brain stimulation (CT-DBS) in the treatment of cognitive impairment secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI). It involves a neurosurgical procedure in which electrodes are implanted in the brain, connected to an implanted pacemaker-like device in the chest. The proposed study, if successful, will provide supporting evidence for the development of a novel therapeutic approach utilizing CT-DBS to improve these enduring cognitive impairments arising in persons with multi-focal structural brain injuries. This research will address the critical gap of the lack of any available treatments. CT-DBS targets well-defined neuronal populations within the central thalamus that have known anatomical and physiological specializations, which not only provide a key role in arousal regulation during cognitively-mediated behaviors, but also exhibit a particular vulnerability to dysfunction in the setting of multi-focal, non-selective brain injuries.

Our proposed study aims to support development of CT-DBS as a novel therapeutic avenue for accessing cognitive reserve in patients with acquired brain injuries. In the proposed feasibility study of 6 subjects at a single investigational site, we will test the safety of CT-DBS in the severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) population with GOSE 6-7 level recovery and collect data to establish the translation of preclinical studies into human application of CT-DBS.

Inclusion Criteria:

• History of moderate to severe TBI based on worst GCS score within first 48 hours of injury (acceptable GCS range = 3-12)
• Age 22-60
• At least 24 months from date of onset
• Fluent in English and able to independently provide consent
• Rating of upper moderate disability to lower good recovery on the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) at time of enrollment (acceptable GOSE range 5-7)
• Failure to return to pre-injury level of vocational or educational function
• Either receiving no CNS stimulants or other medications known to affect cognitive function, or on stable doses of these medications for the last three months

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of major developmental, neurologic, psychiatric or substance use disorder with evidence of disability prior to onset of TBI
• Major medical co-morbidities including: end stage renal failure, severe heart failure, coagulopathy, severe respiratory problems, severe liver failure, uncontrolled hypertension or other significant medical co morbidities
• Have had a documented seizure within 3 months of study screening (subjects may re-screen if seizure free after initial screen failure)
• Malignancy with < 5 years life expectancy
• Untreated / uncontrolled (severe at the time of enrollment) depression or other psychiatric disorder
• Women of childbearing age who do not regularly use an accepted contraceptive method
• Inability to stop anticoagulation therapy or platelet anti-aggregation therapy before, during and after surgery
• Previous DBS or other brain implants
• Previous ablative intracranial surgery
• Implantable hardware not compatible with MRI
• Condition requiring diathermy after DBS implantation
• Hardware, lesions or other factors limiting placement of electrodes in optimal target location in the judgment of the operating surgeon
• Concurrent enrollment in any other clinical trial
• Any condition or finding that, in the judgment of the PI, significantly increases risk or significantly reduces the likelihood of benefit from DBS