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Comparison of spinal cord stimulation profiles from intra- and extradural electrode arrangements by finite element modelling

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Abstract

Spinal cord stimulation currently relies on extradural electrode arrays that are separated from the spinal cord surface by a highly conducting layer of cerebrospinal fluid. It has recently been suggested that intradural placement of the electrodes in direct contact with the pial surface could greatly enhance the specificity and efficiency of stimulation. The present computational study aims at quantifying and comparing the electrical current distributions as well as the spatial recruitment profiles resulting from extra- and intra-dural electrode arrangements. The electrical potential distribution is calculated using a 3D finite element model of the human thoracic spinal canal. The likely recruitment areas are then obtained using the potential as input to an equivalent circuit model of the pre-threshold axonal response. The results show that the current threshold to recruitment of axons in the dorsal column is more than an order of magnitude smaller for intradural than extradural stimulation. Intradural placement of the electrodes also leads to much higher contrast between the stimulation thresholds for the dorsal root entry zone and the dorsal column, allowing better focusing of the stimulus.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Prof. J. Buitenweg of U. Twente for helpful discussions, and their University of Iowa colleagues H. Chen and H. Kawasaki for technical assistance with the experimental part of the project. Partial support by the University of Virginia Biomedical Innovation Fund is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA

    Qiujun Huang & George T. Gillies

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA

    Hiroyuki Oya, Oliver E. Flouty, Chandan G. Reddy & Matthew A. Howard III

  3. School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    Marcel Utz

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  1. Qiujun Huang
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  2. Hiroyuki Oya
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  3. Oliver E. Flouty
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  4. Chandan G. Reddy
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  5. Matthew A. Howard III
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  6. George T. Gillies
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  7. Marcel Utz
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Correspondence to Marcel Utz.

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Huang, Q., Oya, H., Flouty, O.E. et al. Comparison of spinal cord stimulation profiles from intra- and extradural electrode arrangements by finite element modelling. Med Biol Eng Comput 52, 531–538 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-014-1157-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-014-1157-7

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