SYSTEM AND METHODS OF DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION FOR POST-OPERATION PATIENTS
A method for programming a deep brain stimulator implanted in a target region of a brain of a living subject for optimal stimulation, wherein the deep brain stimulator comprises at least one electrode having a plurality of electrode contacts spaced apart from each other, and any portion of the brain of the living subject is identifiable by a set of corresponding spatial coordinates. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of creating an efficacy atlas in which any spatial coordinates for a position in a target region of the brain of the living subject are related to a position with corresponding atlas coordinates in the efficacy atlas, and each position in the atlas coordinates of the efficacy atlas is associated with an efficacy of stimulation at a corresponding position in the spatial coordinates of the brain of the living subject; acquiring a position of each electrode contact of the at least one electrode in the spatial coordinates of the brain of the living subject; mapping the acquired position of each electrode contact of the at least one electrode in the spatial coordinates of the brain of the living subject onto a corresponding position in the efficacy atlas so as to determine the efficacy of stimulation at the acquired position in the spatial coordinates of the brain of the living subject; and selecting one or more electrode contacts having the highest efficacy for stimulation.