Graham Lab

Safe MRI with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Implants

Dr. Graham has research interests in neuromodulation techniques, particularly focusing on the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS). DBS implants, similar to cardiac pacemakers, are increasingly being used to treat various neurological and psychiatric conditions in patients who do not respond to conventional treatments like medication.
nyaa439fig4
Each electrode is looped once about its respective burr hole. Further excess wire is coiled deep to the IPG.

X-ray image illustrating the electrode/extension configuration used at our institution for the purpose of decreasing MRI-related heating (Davidson et al., 2021).

In collaboration with Dr. Nir Lipsman and Dr. Clement Hamani, Dr. Graham’s research explores methods to conduct MRI research on DBS patients safely. These studies aim to:

  • Understand how DBS devices achieve their therapeutic effects.
  • Advance DBS technology for improved healthcare outcomes.

Parallel Radiofrequency Transmission (pTx)

A significant part of this research involves using parallel radiofrequency transmission (pTx) technology. Dr. Graham and his team have demonstrated that pTx MRI can safely image DBS implants without causing potentially harmful localized heating in the brain. A number of projects are underway to build new MRI hardware and software for pTx applications, ensuring the safe imaging of DBS patients.
This work is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

More details on this research application can be found in the following Scientia Article.

Scientia article

Recent Publications

Deep brain stimulation of the nucleus accumbens in the treatment of severe alcohol use disorder: a phase I pilot trial.

Davidson B, Giacobbe P, George TP, Nestor SM, Rabin JS, Goubran M, Nyman AJ, Baskaran A, Meng Y, Pople CB, Graham SJ, Tam F, Hamani C, Lipsman N. Mol Psychiatry. 2022 Oct;27(10):3992-4000. doi: 10.1038/s41380-022-01677-6. Epub 2022 Jul 21. PMID: 35858989

Three-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Patients With Deep Brain Stimulators: Results From a Phantom Study and a Pilot Study in Patients.

Davidson B, Tam F, Yang B, Meng Y, Hamani C, Graham SJ, Lipsman N. Neurosurgery. 2021 Jan 13;88(2):349-355. doi: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa439. PMID: 33045736

Safe MRI of Deep Brain Stimulation Implants: A Review of the Promises and Challenges

Arianpouya M, Yang B, Tam F, Davidson B, Hamani C, Lipsman N, Graham SJ, Advances in Neurology and Neuroscience Research Volume 2 Article ID: 100012 DOI: 10.51956/ANNR.100012 Page 1 of 23 Volume 2, Article ID: 100012 

Numerical Simulations of Realistic Lead Trajectories and an Experimental Verification Support the Efficacy of Parallel Radiofrequency Transmission to Reduce Heating of Deep Brain Stimulation Implants during MRI.

McElcheran CE, Golestanirad L, Iacono MI, Wei PS, Yang B, Anderson KJT, Bonmassar G, Graham SJ. Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 14;9(1):2124. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-38099-w. PMID: 30765724