Patent ID: 7069083
Filing Date: 2006-06-27
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for electrically stimulating an area in a spinal disc, comprising: implanting a steerable lead at a placement site for stimulating a spinal disc such that the lead is disposed circumferentially along or within an annulus of the spinal disc, the lead including a plurality of electrodes distributed from at least an anterior portion of the spinal disc to a posterior portion of the spinal disc; advancing a stylet through the lead and at least partially past the lead into a nucleus of the spinal disc, wherein the stylet possesses metallic memory to cause the stylet to adopt an arcuate shape to anchor the lead at the placement site; connecting the lead to a signal generator; and generating electrical stimulation pulses using the generator to stimulate targeted portions of the spinal disc, wherein the stimulation of the targeted portion of the spinal disc sufficiently stimulates nerve tissue within the spinal disc to prevent communication of pain signals originating in the spinal disc without damaging tissue of the spinal disc.