Study Demonstrates 72 Percent Seizure Reduction at 7 Years with the RNS® System

In a study presented at the American Epilepsy Society 70th Annual Meeting, NeuroPace, Inc., announced that its ongoing long-term treatment study has demonstrated significant seizure reduction with the RNS^® System (responsive neurostimulation system) among adults who have a common form of epilepsy that is difficult to treat with medication. Results included data on people with medically refractory partial onset epilepsy enrolled at 32 Comprehensive Epilepsy Centers in the United States.

Study Results

• The median reduction in seizure frequency was 72% at seven years.
• During the seventh year post-implant, 25% of patients had a seizure reduction of greater than or equal to 93% for any 3 month period. 
• The response is similar for patients regardless of whether the seizures begin in the mesial temporal lobe or in the neocortex.
• 29% of patients experienced one or more 6-month period of seizure freedom.
• Patients also reported significant improvements in mood, overall quality of life, and cognition.

About the RNS^® System

The RNS^® System is the first closed-loop brain-responsive neurostimulation system designed to prevent epileptic seizures at their source. It is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an add-on therapy to treat adults with partial onset epilepsy whose seizures do not respond to medication.

The neurostimulator is placed under the scalp and within the skull by a surgeon. One or two leads are then placed at the seizure target and connected to the neurostimulator. After the scalp heals, the neurostimulator should not be noticeable to others.

The neurostimulator continuously monitors the brain’s activity and is programmed by the epilepsy doctor to detect and record specific patterns that could lead to a seizure. When these patterns are detected, the neurostimulator responds with brief pulses of stimulation intended to disrupt the abnormal brain activity before a seizure occurs. Detection and stimulation settings are individualized for each person’s patterns and so that stimulation is not felt. In addition, each person gets a take-home monitor so that brain activity data can be sent to the epilepsy doctor between office visits.

Learn more about responsive neurostimulation.