For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Kelli Betsinger, Director of Marketing and Outreach
Telephone: 724-588-1324
Email: KelliBetsinger@GrnNeuroMod.com
New Technology Breaks Care Barrier
Delivering expert neurosurgical support on-demand
GREENVILLE, PA – Two expert teams bridged two continents with advanced web-based brain mapping technology to perform a
groundbreaking operation giving life-changing benefit to a young Kenyan patient with chorea, a severe movement disorder.
Distance Expert®-Surgical allowed pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Leland Albright in Kenya the real-time expertise of intraoperative
neurophysiologist Dr. Erwin B. Montgomery Jr. in Pennsylvania to monitor brain cell activity as Albright passed a microelectrode down to a target deep in the brain. With this new technology, two teams previously required to operate from the
same room can virtually connect offering the same hope brought to Dr. Albright’s patient, to underserved patients worldwide.
The 25 year-old woman had fought a 17-year battle with severe chorea, which frequently resulted in significant self-injury due to
excessive movements in her hands. After developing the movement disorder as a child, Dr. Albright’s patient and her family made
exhaustive attempts to control the disabling symptoms, including trialing seven different oral medications over the past three years
with no improvement. In consultation with Dr. Montgomery and a movement disorders neurologist in Israel, Dr. Albright believed
that a pallidotomy was indicated. Now only days after her surgery, the movements have ceased and in turn improved her quality of
life.
Living northwest of Kenya’s capital Nairobi, the patient sought care from the faith-based, nonprofit Kijabe Hospital that sits on
the Rift Valley escarpment. Reaching it requires travel over some 40 miles of rough road creating a barrier for expert
consultation. Developed with such locations in mind, the web-based software enables offsite specialists to assist onsite surgical
teams in surgical planning and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring by use of standard FDA–approved techniques.
Optimal surgical outcomes for patients undertaking surgical interventions, infusion or other neuromodulation therapies depend
on monitoring and targeting specific brain regions by recording brain cell activity. A team of researchers led by Dr. Montgomery
and researcher-computational scientist He Huang at the Greenville Neuromodulation Center (GNC) has developed software that
ascertains critical information necessary to monitor brain cell activity over the Internet. Web-based technology holds the
potential to more than bridge two physicians; it holds the key to expanding access to expert treatment.
Support for this procedure was made possible by way of Dr. Albright and the Kijabe Hospital’s collaboration with GNC and
GNC’s dedication to providing 15% of revenues to charitable services. GNC in turn contracted FHC, Inc., a leading manufacturer
of microelectrode recording devices, for neuroCase procedural support services including the necessary equipment, supplies and
human resources.
Partners in this case recognize how physical barriers to physician-specialist collaboration plague not only Kijabe, Kenya, but also
many other developing countries. According to Dr. Montgomery, the means of addressing limited access to care are clear.
“Technology holds the potential to expand the capacity of physicians and nonexpert healthcare providers to fill this void and
deliver state-of-the-art care and ultimately, relief to patients regardless to their location.”
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Patient and surgical team, Kijabe Hospital, Kenya Africa
Dr. Albright preparing to insert the microelectrode.
FHC, Inc.’s Jason Moyer, PhD supporting the surgical team
(L-R) Researcher-Computational Scientist He Huang, GNC Medical Director/Scientist Dr. Erwin B. Montgomery Jr. and GNC Vice
President Tim Williams
Additional Background Information:
Dr. Leland Albright
Pediatric neurosurgeon
Kijabe, Kenya Africa
American Association of Neurological Surgeons 2012 Humanitarian Award winner, neurosurgeon
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health faculty member
(CV available upon request)
Dr. Erwin B. Montgomery
Movement Disorders Neurologist
Medical Director, Greenville Neuromodulation Center
Greenville Neuromodulation Scholar of Neuroscience and Philosophy, Thiel College
Greenville, PA USA
(CV available upon request)
Kijabe Hospital
http://kijabehospital.org
Kijabe Hospital is a non-profit 285-bed hospital owned and operated by Africa Inland Church of Kenya as part
of a network of five hospitals and 45 dispensaries located throughout the country. The goals of the hospital
are excellent medical care, evangelism training in medical professions and disciplining of staff and students.
The pediatric neurosurgery service at Kijabe Hospital is well known and patients come from throughout Kenya
and from neighboring countries as well as from West African countries and islands in the Indian Ocean to be
treated there. More infants with spina bifida are seen at KH than at any other center in the world. They
operate on approximately 1,200 patients each year, 95% of them children.
Greenville Neuromodulation Center (GNC)
www.greenvilleneuromodulationcenter.com
The mission of the Greenville Neuromodulation Center (GNC) is to advance Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) and
other neuromodulation therapies through research, education and clinical care. GNC is a nonprofit
organization based in Greenville, Pennsylvania.
Through ongoing research and development of the tools and techniques used to treat Movement Disorders,
GNC has developed Distance Expert® –Medical and –Surgical, emerging technology for medicine. GNC is
breaking down the barriers to care by expanding the capabilities to nonexpert healthcare professionals to
overcome the current and projected expansion of physician shortages.
FHC
www.fh-co.com
FHC has served the neuroscience community for more than 40 years advancing cranial microTargeting
worldwide. With a guiding principle of innovation through collaboration, FHC designs, manufactures and
internationally markets leading and trusted products that provide customizable and pioneering solutions for
neuroscientists and neurosurgeons. Headquartered in Bowdoin, Maine, FHC operates offices globally with
over 100 employees.
Thiel College
www.thiel.edu
Founded in 1866, Thiel College is an independent liberal arts, sciences and professional studies institution
located on a 135-acre campus in Greenville, Pa. just 90 minutes from Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Erie.
Committed to combining the best of the liberal arts tradition with career and life skills, the Thiel College
faculty offers a high quality undergraduate education to more than 1,100 students across more than 60 majors
and minors in 19 discipline areas that inspire, challenge and prepare students to succeed.