Neuromodulation therapy

Neuromodulation involves utilizing implantable devices to modulate abnormal neural pathways with either pharmacologic or electrical stimuli. Neuromodulation therapies can be directed to various anatomical locations along the central and peripheral nervous system. This explains the many forms of neuromodulation therapies that exist today, which include deep brain stimulation, spinal cord stimulation, dorsal root ganglion stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation and intrathecal drug delivery systems. While the applications of neuromodulation are broad, this chapter aims to focus on its application to chronic pain conditions. In this future landscape, clinical results will continue to improve, devices will become smaller and more usable and the overall neuromodulation experience will evolve in a patient-centric manner.