"Minimally invasive" Parkinson's implant developed

A US surgeon who was one of the first to offer Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) as an outpatient treatment for Parkinson's disease has now developed an implant to ease symptoms in patients with the condition.

Dr Christopher Duma is offering the procedure, which he describes as "minimally invasive", at his DISC Surgery Centre in California.

DBS administers a small electrical pulse to certain regions of the brain and serves to deactivate the areas that are causing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Wires are placed in the brain and connected to a small control device implanted below the skin near the collarbone.

Dr Duma insists the process has only minor side effects and the new procedure results in fewer complications and a reduced risk of infection. He claims 90 per cent of patients with the implant show a "marked improvement" as a result.

"I am already gratified every time I get the opportunity to stop symptoms in a Parkinson's patient. To do so with even less disruption of life, and such a high quality of care, is very exciting," he said.

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