Electrode geometry and preferential stimulation of spinal nerve fibers having different orientations: A modeling study

Abstract

In a computer modeling study of epidural spinal cord stimulation using a longitudinal array of electrode contacts, the effect of contact geometry and contact combination on the threshold voltages for stimulation of dorsal column (DC) fibers and dorsal root (DR) fibers was investigated. It was concluded that DC-fiber stimulation will be favoured when a tripolar combination and small contact length and spacing are used, while DR-fiber stimulation will be favoured when unipolar stimulation and large contact length are used.