Current Innovations in Peripheral Nerve Stimulation

Figure 1

Schematic presentation of wireless peripheral nerve stimulation. An extremely small, insulated electrical lead is inserted adjacent to peripheral nerve through a 14G Tuoy needle under ultrasound guidance [25, 35]. The lead insertion is similar to perineural catheter placement. No additional equipment is required to be inserted into patient’s body. The procedure is rapid and relatively less traumatic. The external pulse generators, which are wearable in belts, fabric, jewelry, etc., provide power to the implanted wireless leads. The technique eliminates need for an implantable pulse generator (IPG) and tunneling of the electrodes to IPG, thereby reducing the expense of these therapies. The electrical energy is transmitted from external pulse generator to the implanted leads, inducing action potentials in nearby neurons.