Sculpting neural activation using deep brain stimulation leads with radially segmented contacts

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) leads with radially-segmented contacts are an enabling technology to more precisely sculpt neuronal activation and potentially improve clinical outcomes for patients with a number of brain disorders. In this study, we developed a computational modeling approach to investigate the relationship between the number of radial contacts around a DBS lead and the degree to which monopolar and bipolar stimulation settings can manipulate a region of axonal activation. Herein we describe methods for steering, shifting, and sculpting the region of neural activation in the context of both lead design and stimulation configuration.