Neuroendoscopy-compatible neurostimulation catheter for minimally-invasive and multifunctional hypothalamic deep brain stimulation

TL;DR

A new minimally invasive neurostimulation catheter is developed for hypothalamic deep brain stimulation, combining electrical and drug delivery functions to improve treatment of neurological conditions.

Contribution

A multifunctional neurostimulation catheter compatible with endoscopic access is introduced for targeted hypothalamic DBS.

Findings

The catheter integrates electrical stimulation and pharmaceutical delivery for hypothalamic DBS.

The design is compatible with existing neurosurgical tools and demonstrated electrochemical performance and safety.

Successful implantation and drug delivery were validated in a PDMS mold simulating the third ventricle.

Abstract

As hypothalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been clinically proven effective for treating various neurological conditions, there is a growing need for strategies that minimize invasiveness while maximizing therapeutic efficacy. We propose a highly translational multifunctional neurostimulation catheter compatible with endoscopic access to the third ventricule for targeted ventromedial hypothalamic deep brain stimulation. This approach offers several key advantages: (1) a multifunctional catheter for both electrical and pharmaceutical intervention, (2) a minimally-invasive implantation procedure, and (3) enhanced electrode contacts with the third ventricle wall to access the underlying hypothalamic nuclei. The system comprises a flexible catheter with integrated thin-film microelectrodes, a customized cylindrical connector, extension wires, and a customized neurostimulator. The design features its high compatibility with clinically available neurosurgical tools, including guide wires and burr hole valves. We evaluated electrochemical performance under various bending conditions and assessed the safety and long-term device reliability. In addition, we demonstrated successful implantation into a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mold shaped to sit in the third ventricle, simulated the electric potential distribution using finite element analysis, and validated a clinically compatible drug delivery procedure. This novel implantation strategy holds promise for reducing procedural risks associated with hypothalamic deep brain stimulation.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10544-026-00804-2.

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