Science, Star Wars and Deep Brain Stimulation: How Boston Scientific is Helping Parkinson’s Disease Patients

Ten million people around the world live with Parkinson’s diseaseⁱ a progressive neurological condition. Hear from one Boston Scientific leader who is developing technologies to improve lives of these patients, and a patient who has a device that helps him control his Parkinson’s tremors.

 

Rafael Carbunaru, PhD, is Vice President of Research and Development for Neuromodulation at Boston Scientific. In this role, he leads the development of technologies that help people living with neurological disorders—including Parkinson’s disease.

Rafael, what do you think people need to know about Parkinson’s disease?

I think many people are somewhat familiar with Parkinson’s disease, but probably only on a surface level. It affects about one million Americans,ⁱ and it is often characterized by symptoms that affect movement, such as slowness, inability to move, tremors, altered gait and/or muscle rigidity. Over time, these symptoms typically increase and become more severe.

The disease is debilitating, and the symptoms change how people live their lives. One story that really struck me is that of Brendan, a 57-year-old man from Illinois whose tremors caused him a great deal of pain to the point that he was uncomfortable driving and he and his wife considered early medical retirement. Hearing the effect this disease has not only on a patient, but on his family and his future—nearly taking away his ability to do things we rely on like driving to work—is sobering, and reminds me how important our work truly is.

How is Parkinson’s disease treated?

Following a diagnosis, most people with Parkinson’s disease will be treated with medication. But as the disease progresses, more frequent and higher doses of medications are often needed to manage the condition, which can lead to side effects and are not always as effective at managing symptoms. As a result, some physicians will recommend a long-term, adjunctive solution called deep brain stimulation (DBS).

What exactly is deep brain stimulation? How does it work?

Deep brain stimulation works by targeting and stimulating specific regions of the brain with mild electrical impulses. The device is implanted in a person’s chest, directly below the skin, and the mild electrical impulses are sent to the brain via leads.

We know that DBS technologies are effective. Clinical trials for DBS devices have shown improved outcomes for people living with Parkinson’s disease, including better quality of lifeⁱⁱ But at Boston Scientific, we weren’t satisfied with some of the older technologies approved a little more than 20 years ago. So, we set out to develop a DBS system that allows for more flexibility and precision.

What makes the Boston Scientific Vercise™ Directional Systems different?

Throughout my life, I’ve always been inspired to challenge the limitations of healthcare technology. In my work, I challenge myself and my teams to focus on what is best for patients. This approach is truly part of our DNA here, and I believe our DBS devices are an excellent example of that. 

The key to the Boston Scientific DBS portfolio, headlined by the Vercise™ DBS Systems, is that it is foundationally different from older DBS technologies available today. Our Vercise DBS Systems adapted cochlear implant technology—devices that were originally designed to stimulate auditory nerves to help people hard of hearing. The precision and sensitivity of these devices is different than other DBS systems, which were based on pacemaker technology that delivered steady streams of energy to stimulate the heart muscle. 

Our proprietary multiple independent current control—or MICC, as we call it— enables physicians to deliver to a precise and small target in the brain a desired amount of therapy (electrical stimulation) via the directional leads. This Vercise Directional System with Cartesia™ Lead is designed to enable stimulation only where it will have the greatest benefit, both in terms of symptom control and in reducing side effects. And even as a patient’s brain changes due to aging or disease progression, the system is designed for a physician to be able to ensure the right amount of therapy is being delivered to the right target.

For people like Brendan and his wife, DBS can make a real difference. Brendan and Teri chose the Boston Scientific device because the adaptability gave them a lot of options for the future—something they didn’t have before.

You mentioned your inspiration. What inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare?

I have always been interested in science and technology, but the moment I knew this is the work I wanted to do is a bit of a funny one. When I was 10 years old I saw Star Wars for the first time—and I will never forget the scene when Luke Skywalker gets a new robotic hand. As a kid, I didn’t know if that was possible, but it inspired me into this fulfilling career. Now that I know the great potential of medical devices, what really inspires me are the patients whose lives we touch. I am grateful to our team at Boston Scientific for placing an importance on listening to and sharing patient stories. When I hear stories from people like Brendan and Teri, I know that what we are doing is truly important.

How does the Neuromodulation team at Boston Scientific approach challenges like Parkinson’s disease?

On the most fundamental level, what we are trying to do is to learn to "speak Brainish." We want to understand the language of the nervous system. As we improve our understanding of the signals sent by the nervous system, we can develop technologies that speak that same language and help those living with neurological disorders.

What are you most excited about for the future of Neuromodulation?

Our team is never satisfied. We’ll continue to learn, research and innovate. When you look at the growing burden of neurological disorders, from Parkinson’s disease to chronic pain as well as stroke, Alzheimer’s and even mental health challenges, there are so many opportunities to improve patient care. It is an extremely exciting time to be in this field, and we look forward to doing our part to advance these critical technologies to help patients.

 

Learn more about deep brain stimulation to treat Parkinson's symptoms.