Description
- Abstract:
- Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is a procedure that masks neuropathic pain for people with failed back surgery syndrome, postherpetic neuralgia and a host of other indications [1]. Insertion of a SCS can be achieved either percutaneously with a cylindrical lead or a surgically inserted paddle that is placed over the posterior spinal cord dura. A paddle electrode generally provides better coverage and relief of pain over cylindrical leads, since these broader electrodes provide more contact area with the dura, unidirectional stimulation, contain more electrodes, and diminish the possibility of lead migration [3]. However, paddle leads are more expensive to insert, less accessible, and require more invasive surgery that can lead to a host of postoperative complications [2]. In this thesis the design of a novel cylindrical lead that uses the shape memory alloy nitinol is presented as a potential improvement to current methods of SCS. The lead constructed of a nitinol interior can be inserted percutaneously, without the need of a laminectomy, and morph into a paddle-like geometry with greater dura contact area once it is inserted into the body. This design aims to reduce costs of SCS, increase accessibility, improve patient outcomes, reduce lead migration, and minimize post-operative complications. Proof of concept for the design will be discussed along with analogous devices using nitinol for vascular use. In addition, both thermal and mechanical methods to control the rate of shape recovery of the nitinol lead from a cylindrical to paddle like shape once inserted into the body will be discussed. Challenges with insertion and potential risk of this novel method for SCS will also be touched upon. In the future a cadaver test will be conducted to test how the device works in vitro and further improvements in prototyping and insertion methods will be made.
- Notes:
- Thesis (Sc. M.)--Brown University, 2021
Citation
Sampath, Shailen Goel,
"Shape Memory Nitinol Based Minimally Invasive Spinal Cord Stimulation Lead Concept for Pain Relief"
(2021).
Biomedical Engineering Theses and Dissertations.
Brown Digital Repository. Brown University Library.
https://repository.library.brown.edu/studio/item/bdr:xjz6ngcb/
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Collection:
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Biomedical Engineering Theses and Dissertations
Theses and Dissertations for the Biomedical Engineering department....