Patent ID: 7797054

Claim:
A medical system for electrical stimulation of a spinal cord, the system comprising: a first column of electrodes, and a second column of electrodes extending alongside the first column of electrodes, each of the first and second columns of electrodes including at least a first electrode separated from a second electrode by an insulative spacer, and each of the first and second columns of electrodes having a length that is defined from a proximal end of the respective first electrode to a distal end of the respective second electrode; an expandable member disposed between the first and second columns of electrodes; and an expansion mechanism adapted to transmit externally applied pressure to expand the expandable member, the expansion of the expandable member forcing each of the first column of electrodes and the second column of electrodes into a respective position in which the first and second columns of electrodes are spaced apart from one another and the length of the first column extends approximately parallel with the length of the second column; wherein the expandable member comprises a first expandable member, and further comprising: a second expandable member extending alongside the first column of electrodes and being offset from the first expandable member about a perimeter of the first column of electrodes; and a third expandable member extending alongside the second column of electrodes and being offset from the first expandable member about a perimeter of the second column of electrodes; and wherein the expansion mechanism is further adapted to transmit externally applied pressure to expand the second and third expandable members.