September 18, 2026

@michaelokun

One of my favorite moments from this morning’s DBS Think Tank came from Nico Dosenbach, who reminded us of the famous story of Charles Steinmetz and Henry Ford. When Ford’s machinery failed, Steinmetz studied the problem, made a chalk “X” on exactly the right spot and told the engineers where to make the repair. His famously large bill was essentially: a small amount for making the chalk mark and the rest for knowing where to put the X. What a perfect metaphor for modern neuromodulation. Implanting a DBS lead is one thing; understanding the circuits, networks and connectivity well enough to know exactly where to put the X is where the real magic lives.