Prisma Health Richland Hospital is first in South Carolina to offer next-generation, deep-brain stimulation technology for Parkinson’s patients

Hospital is among the first in U.S. to use new system

Columbia, S.C.—Prisma Health Richland Hospital is the first site in South Carolina and among the first in the U.S. to use more precise deep brain stimulation (DBS) using real-time brain signals that improve the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, tremor, dystonia, and other movement disorders.

Developed by Medtronic, the SenSight™ Directional Lead System is the first implant in the U.S. to use directionality and sensing, which allow physicians to deliver more personalized DBS therapy. The new technology has been U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. 

Prisma Health’s team conducted the first procedure with this technology in early June. The patient responded well to treatment and with improvements in Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

Erwin Mangubat, MD, neurosurgeon with Prisma Health Neurosurgery, who performed the procedures, said, “This technology also will allow for more precise and customized DBS therapy tailored to individual patient needs. Anytime we can bring even more specialization to a patient’s care it improves our opportunities to help them. Our team is committed to bringing those solutions to our patients.” 

DBS involves surgery to implant thin electrical wires, known as “leads,” into carefully selected brain areas and then connect the wires to a programmable pacemaker-like generator implanted under the skin of the upper chest to deliver beneficial stimulation to the malfunctioning segments of the brain.

The SenSight™ system combines two recent advancements: sensing capability that allows physicians to monitor brain signals in real-time and optimize settings for stimulation based on that data, and a directional lead that enables steering of electrical current for more precise targeting of stimulation through the electrode.

Although used for other movement disorders, it will be primarily used to help Parkinson’s disease patients. Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, nearly one million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson's disease, approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with it each year and more than 10 million people worldwide are living with it. The first line of treatment for people with Parkinson’s disease is medication; however, medication alone may not always be effective. To help improve quality of life, physicians will consider treatments such as DBS.

For more information about Prisma Health, visit PrismaHealth.org.

About Prisma Health

Prisma Health is a not-for-profit health company and the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. With nearly 30,000 team members, 18 acute care and specialty hospitals, 2,947 beds, approximately 300 outpatient sites, and nearly 5,000 employed and clinically integrated network physicians and providers, Prisma Health serves more than 1.2 million unique patients annually in its 21-county market area that covers 50% of South Carolina. Prisma Health’s goal is to improve the health of all South Carolinians by enhancing clinical quality, the patient experience and access to affordable care, as well as conducting clinical research and training the next generation of medical professionals. For more information, visit PrismaHealth.org.