University Hospitals Completes Groundbreaking Ablation Procedure Using NeuroOnes OneRF System

Innovations in Neurology & Neurosurgery | Fall 2024

Michael Staudt, MD

Nicholas C. Bambakidis, MD

This summer, University Hospitals successfully completed a groundbreaking neurological procedure in partnership with NeuroOne Medical Technologies Corp., a Minnesota-based company focused on advancing surgical options and outcomes.

Utilizing NeuroOne’s OneRF™ Ablation System, neurosurgeon Michael Staudt, MD, achieved an unprecedented 44 ablations over two days to address a patient’s complex epilepsy condition. The minimally invasive technology has the potential to eliminate prognostic uncertainty and prevent or reduce future seizures on a large scale. 

“The OneRF system is the first and only FDA-approved interface that enables us to choose the electrode to ablate, rather than using an ablation system with off-the-shelf components,” says Dr. Staudt, Director of Epilepsy Surgery, Co-Director of Pain Surgery and Neuromodulation and the George R. and Constance P. Lincoln Chair in Brain Health at University Hospitals. “We were thrilled with the technology’s performance in this case and believe it will prove to be a transformational advancement in the treatment of neurological disorders.”

University Hospitals is the second health system in the nation to employ the OneRF interface, following its initial use at Mayo Clinic Florida. The system’s thin-film sEEG-guided RF capabilities enable the surgeon to both record electrical activity and ablate nervous tissue. Temperature control is achieved via the system’s proprietary Evo® sEEG-RF probe.

Although the use of ablation to treat seizures dates back several decades, the successful application of OneRF technology marks a significant advancement. The procedure undertaken at University Hospitals is unique because the number of ablations over two days in a single patient far exceeds the range found in clinical literature.

Led by Dr. Staudt, the team at University Hospitals Neurological Institute completed the ablations at the patient’s bedside. Utilizing six OneRF electrodes implanted in a separate procedure, the team conducted the 44 separate ablations utilizing sEEG recordings to target the focal epileptic zone.

The two sessions were well tolerated, and mid- and long-term outcomes continue to be evaluated. “The patient has had significant improvements in their seizure frequency, as well as their mood and memory,” says Nicholas C. Bambakidis, MD, Director and Vice President of the UH Neurological Institute, and the Harvey Huntington Brown Jr. Chair in Neurosurgery at UH Cleveland Medical Center. “Once again, University Hospitals is advancing leading-edge technology for epilepsy surgery in Northeast Ohio.”

Comprehensive Epilepsy Care

University Hospitals is a National Association of Epilepsy Centers Tier 4 treatment center  — the highest designation for epilepsy care. Expert epileptologists within the UH Neurological Institute provide innovative, individualized care for every level of seizure disorder. 

A comprehensive range of treatments offered at University Hospitals includes:

In about 60 percent of cases, the cause of epilepsy is idiopathic. In other cases, the origin of seizures may be linked to head injuries, infections such as meningitis or encephalitis, genetic or congenital conditions, exposure to environmental toxins, stroke or brain tumor.

“Epilepsy is very diverse disease. If we can identify and target a seizure focus, we can reduce seizures significantly and potentially offer a cure,” Dr. Staudt says. “We are extremely pleased with how NeuroOne’s OneRF system performed in this case and look forward to adopting the technology into our clinical practice so that more patients can benefit from the novel treatment.”

For more information, contact Dr. Staudt at Michael.Staudt@UHhospitals.org.

Contributing Experts:
Michael Staudt, MD
Neurosurgeon
Director, Epilepsy Surgery
Co-Director, Pain Surgery and Neuromodulation
University Hospitals Neurological Institute
George R. and Constance P. Lincoln Chair in Brain Health
University Hospitals
Associate Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Nicholas C. Bambakidis, MD
Vice President and Director
University Hospitals Neurological Institute
Harvey Huntington Brown, Jr. Chair in Neurosurgery
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Professor
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine