Wireless Novel Nanotechnology in Neuromodulation of Chronic Pain: A Safe Minimally Invasive, Effective Treatment Option

Laura Tyler Perryman*

Received: May 18, 2018;   Published: May 29, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.04.001124

Full Text PDF

To view the Full Article   Peer-reviewed Article PDF

Abstract

Nearly 90 million Americans suffer from chronic back pain and eventually get habituated to opioid pain medication hoping for long term relief. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) evolved over 4 decades as an alternative and effective pain management therapeutic modality, especially in failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). However technology limitations due to the bulk of the equipment and the limited frequency utilized in the stimulation restricted SCS applications. Over the past few years several advancements in nanotechnology and innovative minimally invasive surgical techniques have shown promising results. They also have a potential for less tissue damage, reduced hospital time and health care costs.

Aim: In this article, we introduce a minimally invasive nanotechnology wireless SCS system that has a wide range of frequency of stimulation and wider applications in pain management.

Material: We introduce the basis for nanotechnology stimulation and the preliminary experience with wider applications of wireless Neuromodulation for the relief of chronic pain in multiple clinical trials and case illustrations.

Results: The equipment utilizes a miniature stimulator device with microelectronics, percutaneously placed at the appropriate stimulation target. This is controlled by a wireless extracorporeal power generator to provide the required stimulation as moderated by the clinician and the patient. This wireless device has been so far clinically used in several chronic pain conditions like FBSS, facial pain, chronic regional pain syndrome and post herpetic neuralgia. Results have been very encouraging and devoid of complications related to implantable power generator (IPG) and its accessories. Few migrations occurred in a small number of patients and this has been the only possible complications of this technique indicating further refinements of the technology.

Conclusion: The nanotechnology and wireless devices have reduced the bulk of the implantable SCS equipment to a single electrode (with embedded sensors) due to the present day improved neural-electric interface (in place of brain-machine interface). Thus, they have become minimally invasive with less tissue trauma, fewer hospital hours, reduced hospital visits and better cosmetic results. Further studies with more evaluation metrics in larger groups of studies, however, are required for wider acceptance.

Keywords: Neuromodulation, Spinal cord stimulation, Peripheral nerve stimulation, Wireless pain relief, Minimally invasive

Abbrevations: IPG: Implantable Power Generator, SCS: Spinal Cord Stimulation, FBSS: Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, WPG: Wireless Power Generator, GHz: Giga Hertz frequencies, DRM: Dorsal Root Ganglion, RF: Radiofrequency

Abstract| Introduction| Discussion| Summary| References|