LOS ANGELES, July 25 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say they have developed a unique nerve-stimulation treatment for people unable to control their epileptic seizures with medication or surgery.
The device developed by neuroscientists at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine and the Valencia, Calif.-based, Advanced Bionics Corp., is a trigeminal nerve stimulator that uses a "brain pacemaker" to stimulate a nerve involved in inhibiting seizures.
The trigeminal nerve extends into the brain from the face and forehead, and is known to play a role in seizure inhibition. The stimulator and electrodes used to transmit an electrical current to the nerve can be worn externally or implanted.
The technology and results of a successful pilot human clinical trial are detailed in the July edition of the peer-reviewed journal Epilepsia.
