OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute offers the NeuroPace RNS System as a treatment for drug-resistant focal epilepsy (or refractory epilepsy).

The NeuroPace RNS^® System is a small device that:

• Monitors your brain activity 24 hours a day
• Recognizes and responds to your unique brain patterns to stop seizures
• Records brain activity for your doctors to review

How it works

A trained neurosurgeon performs a surgical procedure to position leads (tiny wires) in your brain at the source of your seizures. Those leads are connected to a device called a neurostimulator. This device will be hidden underneath your scalp, unnoticeable to you or others. Most patients go home the day after the surgery.

The neurostimulator is similar to a pacemaker that monitors and responds to activity in your brain to prevent seizures at their source. You will have a wireless remote monitor that allows you to collect information from the neurostimulator and share it with your doctor. This allows your doctor to learn more about your seizures and improve your care.

At OSF, our neurosurgeons perform this procedure with advanced robotic technology, which provides the most accurate placement of brain electrodes. 

Who may benefit:

The RNS system is beneficial for those individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years old
• Have focal epilepsy, which means doctors can identify a specific part of the brain where seizures originate
• Have tried at least two anti-seizure medications but continue to experience frequent seizures

Getting started

The first step toward treatment with the RNS system is a consultation with a team of neurologists and a trained neurosurgeon. Additional diagnostic testing will allow your medical team to identify the specific location (or locations) in the brain where your seizures start.