White matter tracing combined with electric field simulation - A patient-specific approach for deep brain stimulation

OBJECTIVE: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in zona incerta (Zi) is used for symptom alleviation in essential tremor (ET). Zi is positioned along the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract (DRT). Electric field simulations with the finite element method (FEM) can be used for estimation of a volume where the stimulation affects the tissue by applying a fixed isolevel (V). This work aims to develop a workflow for combined patient-specific electric field simulation and white matter tracing of the DRT, and to investigate the influence on the V from different brain tissue models, lead design and stimulation modes. The novelty of this work lies in the combination of all these components.