Epilepsy treatment has come a long way. For decades, clinicians relied on surface EEG and educated guesswork to determine the origins of seizures, often falling short when it came to localizing deep-seated seizure foci. Then came stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG), and everything changed.

SEEG introduced a new way to see the brain. For the first time, clinicians could map complex seizure networks in three dimensions, delving into deep structures that surface EEG could only hint at. SEEG became a game-changer, offering patients with drug-resistant epilepsy a path to seizure freedom they hadn’t dared to hope for.

But how did SEEG become such a critical tool in epilepsy care? And how have innovations in electrode design and surgical techniques refined its precision to what we see today?

SEEG: Precision That Changed the Field

If you’ve worked with SEEG, you already know its value. This minimally invasive technique allows for targeted electrode implantation into the deep brain, creating a three-dimensional map of seizure activity. Unlike subdural grids that require a craniotomy, SEEG provides access to regions like the insula and mesial temporal lobe, without disrupting the overlying cortex.

Recent studies have demonstrated that SEEG-guided resections can achieve seizure-free outcomes in approximately 62% of patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy, with a mean follow-up period of 12 months. This approach enhances the accuracy of epileptogenic zone localization, facilitating more targeted and less invasive surgical interventions compared to traditional methods. 

Advancements in robotic-assisted implantation have further refined the process. Robotic platforms have improved accuracy and reproducibility during electrode placement, reducing procedural time and complication risks, while increasing the confidence of neurosurgeons in targeting elusive seizure foci​.

The integration of SEEG with advanced imaging modalities such as functional MRI (fMRI), FDG-PET, and MEG has also elevated its diagnostic power. This multimodal approach allows for cross-validation of epileptogenic zones, enhancing surgical planning and outcomes​.

DIXI medical: Helping Clinicians Push the Boundaries

As SEEG has evolved, so have the tools that make it possible. At DIXI medical, we’ve been part of this evolution from the very beginning. It started in the 1970s with a simple idea: to create electrodes that could record deep brain activity reliably and safely. What began as a collaboration with pioneering clinicians in France soon grew into a global mission to improve how we diagnose and treat epilepsy.

Back in the 1970s, a group of physicians and scientists from Rennes University Hospital attended a fair focusing on the watchmaking and microtechniques industries in Besançon. Their goal was to find partners to develop tools for a new neurosurgery technique called stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG), pioneered by Prof. Talairach and Prof. Bancaud at St-Anne Hospital in Paris.

This collaboration between neuroscientists and precision industry experts blossomed over the years. DIXI medical took over the work on SEEG in 1988, launching the industrial production of SEEG electrodes and implantation tools under the DIXI medical brand in the 1990s. By November 2017, DIXI products received FDA and CE approval, allowing them to expand globally.

Shaping the Future of Epilepsy Treatment

SEEG is not just a tool, it’s a method that continues to evolve and, at DIXI medical, our focus remains the same: working alongside clinicians to push the boundaries of what’s possible in epilepsy care. We believe the future of epilepsy treatment lies at the intersection of clinical expertise and technological innovation, and we’re proud to contribute to that evolution.

If you’re working in epilepsy treatment, staying at the forefront of SEEG innovation is essential. The right tools, combined with the right expertise, can make all the difference.

To explore more about SEEG technology and its applications, visit www.diximedical.com.