Management of Deep Brain Stimulator Battery Failure: Battery Estimators, Charge Density, and Importance of Clinical Symptoms

Abstract

Objective: We aimed in this investigation to study deep brain stimulation (DBS) battery drain with special attention directed toward patient symptoms prior to and following battery replacement. Background: Previously our group developed web-based calculators and smart phone applications to estimate DBS battery life (http://mdc.mbi.ufl.edu/surgery/dbs-battery-estimator). Methods: A cohort of 320 patients undergoing DBS battery replacement from 2002-2012 were included in an IRB approved study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY). Results: The mean charge density for treatment of Parkinson's disease was 7.2 μC/cm2/phase (SD = 3.82), for dystonia was 17.5 μC/cm2/phase (SD = 8.53), for essential tremor was 8.3 μC/cm2/phase (SD = 4.85), and for OCD was 18.0 μC/cm2/phase (SD = 4.35). There was a significant relationship between charge density and battery life (r = -.59, p