A polymer-based stent-electrode array was deployed into the left transverse sinus of an ovine model, and biphasic current pulses targeting the cerebellum were delivered through the stent electrodes while a subdural electrocorticography grid recorded cortical responses. The researchers report that endovascular stimulation consistently evoked time-locked cortical potentials, with early and late components at approximately 40 ms and 100 ms post-stimulation. Impedance monitoring throughout the experiments confirmed electrode functionality and stability.
Strength-duration analysis yielded rheobase and chronaxie values, giving a quantitative basis for parameter selection and for comparison with established intracranial stimulation modalities. The authors conclude that endovascular electrodes may access non-superficial brain structures and evoke reproducible cortical responses without open neurosurgery, establishing a foundational framework for endovascular neuromodulation and supporting further work on closed-loop and network-level approaches. The work was carried out in a sheep model and has not been tested in humans.