A 13-year-old UK teenager, Oran Knowlson, has experienced an 80% reduction in his daytime seizures after receiving a groundbreaking brain device implant. The device, developed by Amber Therapeutics, is a neurostimulator that sends electrical signals deep into the brain to control seizures. Knowlson, who suffers from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a treatment-resistant form of epilepsy, has seen a remarkable improvement in his condition since the surgery.
The surgery, conducted at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London as part of a clinical trial, involved inserting two electrodes deep into Knowlson’s brain, reaching the thalamus. These electrodes were connected to the neurostimulator, a 3.5cm square and 0.6cm thick device placed under his skull and anchored with screws. This device, recharged through wearable headphones, continuously delivers mild electrical stimulation to block the pathways that trigger seizures.
The surgery, a meticulous process lasting around eight hours, demanded extreme precision. The electrodes were placed with a margin of error less than a millimeter, ensuring the device could effectively disrupt the abnormal electrical activity in Knowlson’s brain. This approach to deep brain stimulation (DBS) differs from previous attempts by placing the neurostimulator directly in the skull rather than the chest, reducing potential complications such as infections and device failure.
Before the surgery, Knowlson’s epilepsy dominated his life, causing daily seizures, sometimes hundreds in a day, often resulting in loss of consciousness and requiring resuscitation. His mother, Justine, described how epilepsy had robbed him of his childhood, forcing him to live with constant fear and risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).
Since the surgery, Knowlson’s life has undergone a profound transformation. He has become happier, more engaged, and has regained a better quality of life. His mother notes a significant change in his personality and ability to express himself. Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon Martin Tisdall, who led the surgical team, expressed immense joy at the outcome, highlighting the impact on Knowlson and his family.
This advancement holds immense significance for epilepsy treatment. Tisdall emphasized that deep brain stimulation offers unprecedented hope for patients with limited treatment options, bringing them closer to stopping epileptic seizures. The ongoing trial, known as the Children’s Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation for Epilepsy Trial (CADET), will recruit three additional patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, aiming for a total of 22 participants.
The next phase of the trial will focus on making the neurostimulator responsive to real-time changes in brain activity, allowing it to block seizures as they are about to happen. The success of this trial has brought renewed hope to Knowlson’s family and countless others affected by severe epilepsy. While acknowledging that the treatment is not a cure, Knowlson’s family is optimistic about his future.
This groundbreaking device represents a significant advancement in epilepsy treatment and holds promise for other neurological disorders. The Picostim neurostimulator has already been used to treat patients with Parkinson’s disease, and similar skull-mounted neurostimulators have been trialed in the United States for epilepsy. This breakthrough offers a beacon of hope for individuals struggling with debilitating neurological conditions, marking a potential turning point in the medical field.
