A child has received the first brain implant to treat epilepsy: there are new possibilities for treating this drug-resistant disease.
Il new device implanted in the brain by Oran Knowlson marks a turning point in the treatment of more severe forms of epilepsy. This neurostimulator, developed by the British company Amber Therapeutics, is designed to emit electrical impulses capable of interrupting the neuronal anomalies that trigger epileptic seizures. The implant, placed directly in the skull, represents an innovation over previous technologies, which required placement in the chest with wires running to the brain.
Deep brain stimulation technology is not new in the treatment of epilepsy, but this approach is unique. This device, in fact, is particularly suitable for children, reducing complications such as infections and system failures. The neurostimulator has both improved Oran’s life and opened the way to new medical trials.
A complex but precise operation
The operation to insert the neurostimulator lasted approximately eight hours and it required a lot of precision. The neurosurgeons positioned two electrodes in the thalamus of Orana region of the brain that acts as a relay node for neuronal activity.
Once the electrodes were positioned, the neurostimulator was fixed inside the skull, in a specifically created cavity where the bone used to be. The device was then anchored to the surrounding bone structure for avoid movements. This innovation in surgical technique minimizes the risk of post-operative infections and other complications that in the past made the use of similar devices more problematic.
The post-operative results: a life change for Oran
After the operation, Oran had to wait a month to recover before the device was activated. From that moment, his daytime seizures decreased by 80%. The doctors stressed that, although Oran does not feel the electrical impulses emitted by the neurostimulator, the improvement in his condition has been evident and constant.
Oran’s mother, Justine, shared her joy at seeing her son more awake and alert, with seizures less frequent and less serious during the night. This change gave Oran the opportunity to resume activities that had been closed to him for years, such as horse riding lessons.
Hope for other patients with resistant epilepsy
The success of the Oran operation has generated interest in expanding the project. The neurostimulator is part of the project CADETa series of clinical trials conducted collaboratively between several UK hospitals and universities. The objective is to test theEffectiveness of deep brain stimulation in children affected by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and other forms of drug-resistant epilepsy.
The plan is to implant the neurostimulator in three more children with severe epilepsy, monitoring the results to determine whether the technology can become a standard treatment. Although the device does not represent a definitive cure, the improvements seen in Oran’s case offer concrete hope for the future.
The evolution of the device: an intelligent system
The neurostimulator currently implanted in Oran emits constant pulses, but scientists are working on a more advanced version. The goal is to develop a device that can monitor brain activity in real time and automatically respond to signals that indicate the onset of an epileptic seizure. This proactive approach could allow the device to block crises before they appear.
Oran’s mother is excited about this phase of the trial, which could represent a real change in the management of the disease. For now, the family is aware that treatment is not a curebut they are optimistic that Oran will continue to improve.
A model for other neurological diseases
Although this neurostimulator was designed to treat epilepsy, its potential goes beyond that. Similar devices they have already been used to treat Parkinson’s diseasea neurodegenerative disease characterized by tremors and motor difficulties. If this technology proves effective, it could be adapted to address other neurological diseases.