Applier tool for intradural spinal cord implants

Abstract

We have designed, built and tested a novel device for placing intradural neurmodulator implants directly on the pial surface of the spinal cord. This applier tool is designed for ergonomic handling of delicate electro-mechanical devices such as the Iowa-Patch^™ spinal cord stimulator implant, which is aimed at overcoming certain shortcomings in the performance of standard epidural stimulator devices. The applier is approximately 14 cm long, 6 mm in diameter, made of stainless steel components, and has simple and reliable mechanisms for the attachment and release of the implant from it. We describe the design of the device, details of its construction, and its performance during in vivo testing of somatosensory evoked potentials in an ovine model of intradural spinal cord stimulation.

Keywords::

• Spinal cord
• Neuromodulation
• Tissue surrogates
• Pial surface
• Intradural devices

Acknowledgements

The applier tool and fixation device were made by the University of Iowa’s Medical Instrument Shop and we thank M. Wardenburg for his skillful construction of the apparatus. The I-Patch prototypes used in this study were provided under contract with Evergreen Medical Technologies, LLC and were carefully assembled there by R. Shurig, S. E. Scott and R. S. Nelson. This work was funded in part by the University of Iowa GIVF Seed Funds program, the University of Virginia Biomedical Innovation Fund., and also in part by the Kopf Family Foundation, Inc.

Declaration of interest: Authors Howard, Utz and Gillies may receive patent royalties from any commercial licensing of the Iowa-Patch^™ intellectual properties that might be negotiated by their respective institutions.