User's Manual

SpinalModulation,Inc. PhysicianImplantManual



35

PRECAUTION:Donotapplyelectrocauterydirectly totheINS  asthiscandamagethe  INS

orcauseinterferencewhilecommunicatingwiththeINS.

LeadorExtensionTunneling

TunneltheleadsfromtheanchorsitetotheINSpocket.Whentunnelingtotheabdomen, the

clinicianhastwooptions:

• TunneltoamidpointandthencontinuetoINSsite.

• Usethe51cmtunnelingtoolandcurvetheconduitaroundthesideofthepatient.



Thefollowingstepsoutlinethesuggestedproceduretotunnelfromtheleadanchorsitetothe

INSpocket:

PRECAUTION:Use extreme care to not damage the lead with the sharp point of the

tunnelingtool.

1. Identifythetunnelingroutebetweentheleadincisionandtheneurostimulatorpocket.

2. Administerlocalanestheticalongthe tunneling route.Additionalsedationmaybe

administeredatthediscretionofthephysician.

3. Bendthetunnelingtoolasnecessarytoconformtothepatient’scontouralongthe

tunnelingroute

4. Withthestrawinplaceonthetunnelingtool,tunnelfromtheINSpockettothelead

anchorsite.

5. Withdrawthetunnelingtoolfromthestraw,leavingthestrawinthesubcutaneous

tunnel.

PRECAUTION:LeadsorExtensionsshouldberoutedadjacenttoone anotherastoprevent

changesinperceivedstimulationfromtheftdetectorsandmetalscreeningdetectors.

6. PasstheendoftheLead(s)orExtension(s)throughthestrawfromtheanchorsitetothe

INSpocketortothemidpointiftunnelingtotheabdomen.Ateachincisionpoint,leave

astrainreliefloopinplaceastominimizethechancesofleadmigration.

7. Removethestrawfromthetunnelbypassingitovertheleads,takingcarenottocause

tractiononthemanddisturbtheleadposition.



ConnectingLeadtoExtension

If an extension is used to connect the Lead to the INS, refer to the section “Percutaneous

ExtensionTunneling”forinstructionsonhowtoconnecttheExtensiontotheLead.