BIONIC: DBS Intraoperative Electrophysiology Array and Novel Mapping

In this talk, Dr. Bryan Klassen explains how neurosurgeons and neurologists use intraoperative electrophysiology to precisely target deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes—structures as small as a pea, with subregions even smaller. He demonstrates how microelectrode recordings allow the surgical team to detect single‑neuron activity, map borders between white and gray matter, identify motor and sensory representations, and even capture disease‑specific firing patterns like tremor‑synchronized activity. However, Klassen highlights the limits of traditional single‑unit recordings: they are unstable, spatially narrow, and require expert interpretation. To overcome this, his team is developing quantitative, scalable approaches, including AI‑based spike‑shape analysis, local‑field‑potential mapping, broadband spectral biomarkers, and deep‑learning models that can classify thalamic subregions with resting‑state data alone—revealing borders invisible on MRI. The talk culminates with the development of a next‑generation parallel‑recording electrode array that can sample entire DBS trajectories at once—reducing operating‑room time, enabling richer topographic maps, and unlocking simultaneous network‑level analyses such as coherence. With advanced engineering, AI partnerships, and the support of the BIONIC Initiative, Klassen outlines a future where DBS targeting becomes faster, more accurate, and more personalized for every patient. 00:00 Introduction & Session Opening 00:29 DBS Targets Explained: Hitting a “Pea‑Sized” Structure 01:06 Why Microelectrode Recording Matters 02:42 White–Gray Matter Border Identification 04:15 Mapping Patient‑Specific Motor Activity 05:22 Sensory Mapping & Kinesthetic Cells 06:14 Detecting Disease Signatures (Tremor-Synced Firing) 06:28 Limitations of Single-Unit Recording 07:04 Toward Quantitative, Scalable Analyses 08:38 AI-Based Spike Shape Analysis & Canonical Waveforms 09:57 Broadband & Oscillatory Biomarkers in Thalamus 12:24 Deep Learning Reveals Hidden Thalamic Borders 13:35 Parallel Multi-Site Recording: The Future of DBS Mapping 15:08 Novel Electrode Array Development & Vision for Next-Gen DBS From Mayo Clinic to your inbox (free): https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/newsletters Visit Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org Connect with Mayo Clinic: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayoclinic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayoclinic X: https://x.com/MayoClinic Threads: https://www.threads.net/@mayoclinic