| abstract |
The method disclosed herein entails spinal cord stimulation via electrodes placed directly into the spinal cord. Electrodes are placed directly into the dorsal horn, dorsal column, spinothalamic tract, nucleus cuneatus, nucleus gracilis, spinal tract of V, or spinal nucleus of V (nucleus caudalis) depending on the source of pain. This “intramedullary” stimulation “jams” or otherwise prevents the pain signal from being transmitted. The placement of the electrodes is accomplished through an open surgical procedure in which the dura is opened to allow the surgeon direct access to the spinal cord. In the case of SCI (or disease), the electrodes are positioned in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord within several dermatomal segments of the lesion site. Stimulation with intramedullary electrodes can be used to treat other types of pain where stable stimulation of the dorsal columns (and the analogous structures for the face), or their nuclear counterparts (nucleus cuneatus, nucleus gracilis, nucleus caudalis) should relieve pain. Stimulation of the spinothalamic tract may also be achieved by intramedullary placement of electrodes. The method provides a means to stimulate the targeted area directly, creating a stable means of stimulating the desired area, and decreasing stimulation of other structures. |