Patent Document ID: 9403008
Application ID: 14375785
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for directly stimulating a spinal cord of a subject, the subject prone to deleterious nerve signals transmitted along the spinal cord, the method comprising: (a) securing an electrode array at a position inside the dura of the spinal canal of the subject so that the electrodes directly engage the spinal cord; the array comprising (i) a compliant backing configured to conform to a region of the spinal cord within the dura, the backing having an inner surface and an outer surface; (ii) a plurality of electrodes arrayed along the inner surface of the backing; and (iii) circuitry configured for delivering an electrical stimulus to the spinal cord through the plurality of electrodes; then (b) applying an electrical stimulus through the electrodes in the array directly to the spinal cord so that the electrical stimulus inhibits transmission of the deleterious nerve signals along the spinal cord, wherein the electrical stimulus pulses or alternates with sufficiently high frequency to promote stochastic depolarization of sensory neurons within the spinal cord.