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Dana Demers BME 281 November 16, 2011 • A device that is surgically placed under the skin that sends a mild electric current to the spinal cord. • Used to block the feeling of pain by blocking pain signals from reaching the brain • Failed Back Surgery Syndrome- When multiple surgeries to control chronic leg pain fail to cure patient • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome- Disease of the nervous system which causes patient to feel constant burning pain in their foot or hand • Contains four parts: • 1. Implantable pulse generator with a battery • 2. Lead with a number of electrodes • 3. Extension wire that connects generator and lead • 4. Hand-held remote that patient uses to adjust stimulation • Small incision is made in the back, with the lead placed in the epidural space of spinal cord • Pulse generator placed in abdominal or gluteal region • Extension cord connects both of them • Electrodes that are on the lead block the pain signals from reaching the brain by conducting an electric current to block the peripheral stimuli that enter through the dorsal horn in the spinal cord • Instead, the patient feels either nothing or a tingling sensation in the area where pain was normally felt Advantages Disadvantages • Results have shown 40-70% of patients suffering from chronic pain had good to excellent long term relief • Many patients are able to return to work and can have a normal, active lifestyle • Reduces need for pain medications • Easy to use • Many risks with surgical procedure • Patient cannot have stimulator on while driving or lifting heavy items • Battery inside pulse generator needs to be surgically replaced every 25 years • It would improve the device if the surgery was less invasive, since there are many risks such as leaking of spinal fluid, and the lead wire not being positioned on the spinal cord properly that could make a patients situation much worse than before. • However, it has a bright future, since it is already widely used and has had positive results for many patients