Interface geometry governs probe insertion mechanics and electrode deviation in layered brain-mimicking phantoms for deep brain stimulation.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-16-2026
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder often treated with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), a surgical procedure that involves implanting electrodes to improve motor function. Accurate electrode placement is critical for treatment efficacy but can be influenced by tissue deformation, insertion forces, and the mechanical properties of brain tissue. In this study, we investigated the role of layer interface angle as a controlled biomechanical factor affecting insertion forces and electrode deviation. A two-layer agar gel phantom was constructed to produce a prescribed stiffness transition between a lower-stiffness and a higher-stiffness gel layer, and its small-amplitude dynamic shear-stiffness contrast was characterized using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) at 100 Hz. A stage-wise analytical model was formulated to describe the Z-direction axial force-depth response
Volume
25
Issue
5
ISSN
1617-7940
Published In/Presented At
Chen, S., Wu, C., Anders, E., Nathan, R., Bailey, O. M., Wang, Q., Johnson, C. L., & Wu, Q. (2026). Interface geometry governs probe insertion mechanics and electrode deviation in layered brain-mimicking phantoms for deep brain stimulation. Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology, 25(5), 106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-026-02122-1
PubMedID
42749934
Department(s)
Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article