Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a well-established therapy to relieve pain in subjects with chronic pain. In this therapy, electrical currents are delivered to the dorsal column (DC) of the spinal cord via electrodes implanted in the epidural space. However, despite its widespread and long use, SCS is still prone to failures and there remain opportunities to improve its clinical efficacy. In this project, we will develop computational models to analyze an alternative modality of SCS in which the currents are delivered via skin electrodes, thereby overcoming the main failure factors of epidural SCS, and avoiding the risks and costs associated with the surgical requirements of implanted devices. A key feature of the proposed modality is the incorporation of kilohertz-frequency (KHF) signals, which have the potential to penetrate deep in the tissue and the ability to block action potential conduction. These properties may be determinant because they may allow currents delivered across the skin to activate the DC, the main target of the SCS therapy, without coactivation of other more superficial fibers that can produce unwanted effects.
