The study on a telemedicine interaction mode for Deep Brain Stimulation postoperative follow-up

Abstract

Since the development of information technology, telemedicine has been increasingly important in various medical activities. However, telemedicine application for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has not been sufficiently perceived by the public. In this study, we first made a primary exploration to identify the DBS tele-health requirements. According to our questionnaires, 31 participants (22 patients, 9 neurosurgeons) reported an urgent remote adjustment demand. Tele-program combined with video communication were a preferred communication pattern. Based on the requirements discovery, this paper proposed an appropriate interaction mode for DBS remote follow-up. System details were illustrated. Four clinical cases were done in China to test the functionality of the remote monitoring system. The results shows the interaction mode is feasible and efficient for DBS postoperative follow-up.