CE mark has been granted to the SureTune3 software (Medtronic) for deep brain stimulation (DBS). SureTune3 provides patient-specific visualisation of lead location and simulated volume of neural activation to help physicians make decisions on how to program—or tune—their patient’s DBS therapy.
SureTune3’s advancements streamline the physician’s workflow and allow StealthStation surgical planning information to be imported. SureTune3 also contains a 3D deformable atlas to allow physicians to more precisely define anatomical structures, or the exact region in the brain that must be stimulated to alleviate symptoms. The SureTune3 system is fully downloadable with the option to work over a hospital’s server so clinical multidisciplinary teams can work flexibly.
Data on SureTune3 were presented by Jens Volkmann, chairman and professor of Neurology in the University Clinic of Würzburg, Germany at the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Meeting (WSSFN; 26–29 June, Berlin, Germany). At the congress, he explained how SureTune3 is helping his team with patient management. “With SureTune3, I can integrate all patient data—both planning and procedure—which allows for more personalised management of each case,” said Volkmann. “The improved software allows me to accurately visualise each DBS patient’s stimulation settings.”
Using this approach, clinical programming experience, patient-specific visualisation of simulated volume of neural activation and stereotactic planning will form an integrated workflow. Volkmann also presented research using SureTune3 which may provide further insight into how individual neural activation maps may be used.
Medtronic DBS therapy has CE Mark approval for Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor, OCD and epilepsy and is the only DBS complete portfolio that, under specific conditions, is full body MR conditional and can be left on during an MRI scan.
SureTune3 is currently not approved in the United States.
