Spinal cord stimulator

Spinal cord stimulator
Anterior view X-ray of a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implanted in the thoracic spine

A spinal cord stimulator (SCS) or dorsal column stimulator (DCS) is a type of implantable neuromodulation device (sometimes called a "pain pacemaker") that is used to send electrical signals to select areas of the spinal cord (dorsal columns) for the treatment of certain pain conditions. SCS is a consideration for people who have a pain condition that has not responded to more conservative therapy.[1] There are also spinal cord stimulators under research and development that could enable patients with spinal cord injury to walk again via epidural electrical stimulation (EES).[2][3]

  1. ^ McKenzie-Brown, Anne Marie (November 1, 2016). "Spinal cord stimulation: Placement and management". UptoDate.
  2. ^ "Paralysed man with severed spine walks thanks to implant". BBC News. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  3. ^ Rowald, Andreas; Komi, Salif; Demesmaeker, Robin; Baaklini, Edeny; Hernandez-Charpak, Sergio Daniel; Paoles, Edoardo; Montanaro, Hazael; Cassara, Antonino; Becce, Fabio; Lloyd, Bryn; Newton, Taylor; Ravier, Jimmy; Kinany, Nawal; D’Ercole, Marina; Paley, Aurélie; Hankov, Nicolas; Varescon, Camille; McCracken, Laura; Vat, Molywan; Caban, Miroslav; Watrin, Anne; Jacquet, Charlotte; Bole-Feysot, Léa; Harte, Cathal; Lorach, Henri; Galvez, Andrea; Tschopp, Manon; Herrmann, Natacha; Wacker, Moïra; Geernaert, Lionel; Fodor, Isabelle; Radevich, Valentin; Van Den Keybus, Katrien; Eberle, Grégoire; Pralong, Etienne; Roulet, Maxime; Ledoux, Jean-Baptiste; Fornari, Eleonora; Mandija, Stefano; Mattera, Loan; Martuzzi, Roberto; Nazarian, Bruno; Benkler, Stefan; Callegari, Simone; Greiner, Nathan; Fuhrer, Benjamin; Froeling, Martijn; Buse, Nik; Denison, Tim; Buschman, Rik; Wende, Christian; Ganty, Damien; Bakker, Jurriaan; Delattre, Vincent; Lambert, Hendrik; Minassian, Karen; van den Berg, Cornelis A. T.; Kavounoudias, Anne; Micera, Silvestro; Van De Ville, Dimitri; Barraud, Quentin; Kurt, Erkan; Kuster, Niels; Neufeld, Esra; Capogrosso, Marco; Asboth, Leonie; Wagner, Fabien B.; Bloch, Jocelyne; Courtine, Grégoire (February 2022). "Activity-dependent spinal cord neuromodulation rapidly restores trunk and leg motor functions after complete paralysis". Nature Medicine. 28 (2): 260–271. doi:10.1038/s41591-021-01663-5. ISSN 1546-170X. PMID 35132264. S2CID 246651655.