Cortical Electrodes Help Map the Brain

The electrodes are placed on the exposed cortical surface of the brain, or are inserted into the subdural space to contact the cortical surface, and vary according to the procedure being tested. Auragen cortical electrodes are available with platinum-iridium gold-plated contacts, ranging from four to 64 contacts, depending on the surface area needed. The electrodes are connected to recording cables, which are in turn connected to the hospital electroencephalograph (EEG) recording equipment. The electrodes can also be used to map eloquent areas of the cortex before tumor resection, so that the surgeons can avoid removing areas that could result in some form of paralysis, loss of sensory processing, or linguistic ability. The Auragen electrodes are a product of Integra LifeSciences (Plainsboro, NJ, USA), and have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well receiving the CE Marking Certification in the European Union. They have also received FDA clearance for conditional use under Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

"The Auragen electrode line produces clear, consistent and reliable signals through its increased conductive properties, improved strength and gold-on-gold connections,” said Christopher von Jako, vice president of marketing at Integra NeuroSciences. "The advancements in our brain mapping electrodes and accessories reflect our commitment to develop products that allow clinicians to operate with added confidence."

ECoG is currently considered the "gold standard” for defining epileptogenic zones in clinical practice. ECoG data is assessed with regard to ictal spike activity--diffuse fast wave activity recorded during a seizure--and interictal epileptiform activity (IEA)--brief bursts of neuronal activity recorded between epileptic events. ECoG is also performed following the surgery to detect any remaining epileptiform activity, and to determine the success of the surgery.

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