FDA Approves New Deep Brain Stimulation Device for OCD

February 20, 2009 – Doctors could soon treat patients with resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with an implantable device that stimulates the brain to block nerve signals that may cause OCD symptoms.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced approval of a humanitarian device exemption (HDE) for the deep brain stimulator. Such exemptions facilitate the development and marketing of medical devices that treat or diagnose a disease or condition that affects fewer than 4000 people a year in the United States.

The small battery-powered deep brain stimulator — called Reclaim DBS Therapy (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota) — is implanted near the abdomen or the collarbone and connected through a lead to electrodes in the brain. The device delivers intermittent electrical stimulation that blocks nerve signals. One device may be implanted with 2 leads, or 2 systems can be implanted to stimulate both sides of the brain.