| 主权项 |
1. A method of electrically stimulating the spinal cord with a plurality of directional stimulation electrodes on a plurality of electric stimulation leads, each of the electric stimulation leads having a distal end portion with a generally circular cross section on which one or more of the directional stimulation electrode(s) of the plurality are disposed, wherein said plurality of directional stimulation electrodes form an electrode array including at least first, second and third directional stimulation electrodes respectively disposed on first, second and third electric stimulation leads of the plurality of electric stimulation leads, and wherein each directional stimulation electrode of the plurality extends only around a portion of the circumference of the generally circular cross section of the distal end portion on which the directional stimulation electrode is disposed, the method comprising:
(a) implanting the plurality of electric stimulation leads in the epidural space of a patient with:
(1) the plurality of electric stimulation leads forming a lead array in the epidural space in which the third electric stimulation lead is disposed between the first and second electric stimulation leads, and(2) the first, second and third directional stimulation electrodes being oriented at determined angular orientations relative to the spinal cord such that the third directional stimulation electrode generally faces the spinal cord while the first and the second directional stimulation electrodes are orientated at oblique angles relative to the third directional stimulation electrode; and (b) programming the directional stimulation electrodes to create a tripole in which the first, second and third directional stimulation electrodes are active. |
