Animation spinal cord stimulator

Background

Spinal cord stimulation is a medical therapy for the treatment of chronic pain in the legs or back. This alternative procedure is used when other treatment options (conservative, surgical) were unsuccessful or have not effectively reduced the pain. In spinal cord stimulation, an implanted stimulator sends electrical impulses to the spinal cord to superimpose pain signals and reduce the perception of pain.

Project description

For an information film for the Inselspital Bern, we created 3D animated sequences on the surgical procedures required for spinal cord stimulation. The sequences were integrated into a larger information film made from real footage and serve to inform the patient about the details of an upcoming surgery.

In the first part, an electrode is inserted using a needle and positioned in the epidural space on the spinal cord. The correct positioning of the electrode is important to ensure an optimal pain reduction effect.

Depending on the findings, a plate electrode is implanted as an alternative, which is larger and wider and enables wider pain coverage. It consists of a flexible, flat plastic or silicone disk with several embedded electrodes. For implantation, a small part of the vertebral arch must be removed in a minor surgical procedure.

With both of the above methods, a small stimulator (pulse generator) is implanted under the skin (subcutaneously) after a successful test phase. This is connected to the electrodes and supplies them permanently with electrical signals.