Newcastle Hospitals has achieved a medical milestone by performing the UK's first implantation of the EASEE (Epicranial Application of Stimulation Electrodes for Epilepsy) device, a revolutionary brain stimulation implant designed to treat drug-resistant focal epilepsy. The pioneering procedure was carried out by neurosurgeon Chris Cowie at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, marking a significant advancement in epilepsy treatment for patients who do not respond to conventional medication.
Breakthrough Technology for Challenging Cases
The EASEE device, developed by German med-tech company Precisis, represents a "potentially life-changing" treatment option for patients with focal epilepsy affecting brain regions that would be too dangerous to surgically remove. The implant sits directly over the area of the brain impacted by epilepsy and delivers precise brain stimulation using a sophisticated dual-mechanism approach.
The device employs two distinct stimulation methods: direct-current-like stimulation aimed at reducing overactive neurons, and high-frequency stimulation that uses pulses to interrupt imminent seizures. This combination approach targets the electrical brain activity that characterizes epileptic seizures, offering a non-destructive alternative to traditional surgical interventions.
Addressing Critical Medical Need
With an estimated 630,000 people living with epilepsy in the UK, the innovative treatment addresses a significant unmet medical need. Currently, approximately 450 patients each year require risky surgery to remove the part of the brain causing seizures, a procedure that carries substantial risks when epileptic foci are located in critical brain regions.
"We are really pleased to be able to offer this new pioneering treatment to the first patient in the UK," said Chris Cowie. "It's potentially life changing for this particular group of patients who are living with epilepsy which affects their quality of life enormously."
Surgical Precision and Safety
The implantation procedure represents a remarkable advancement in surgical efficiency and safety. Cowie explained that the device is particularly valuable for patients whose epilepsy affects brain regions controlling essential functions such as movement in the arm, leg, or face, or areas responsible for speech production and understanding.
"For example, the cortex which controls movement in the arm, leg or face; or the production or understanding of speech – in some cases we would have performed the surgery, or we might have said 'it's too risky we can't do anything for your epilepsy'," Cowie noted. "Now we can fit this implant in less than an hour, which is potentially life-changing for patients with certain types of epilepsy and has shown to reduce the severity and incidence of seizures in patients in Europe."
Clinical Evidence and Future Implications
The EASEE device has demonstrated effectiveness in European clinical studies, showing measurable reductions in both seizure severity and incidence. This clinical evidence supports the device's potential to transform treatment outcomes for patients with previously limited therapeutic options.
Karl Stoklosa, chief executive at Precisis, emphasized the significance of this partnership: "We are delighted to have partnered with Newcastle Hospitals to bring the first EASEE implant to a patient in the UK. Over one in 100 people live with epilepsy in the UK, which is often a lifelong debilitating condition."
The successful implementation of this technology also points toward broader applications in neurostimulation therapy. Cowie indicated that similar devices could prove useful for treating various neurological conditions, including chronic pain and Parkinson's disease, as the field continues to evolve.
"There's a lot of investment going into this field; as the technology develops, it's becoming more effective, and the future looks really good for patients," he concluded.
