Closing Discussion
Part of Closed-Loop Spinal Cord Stimulation: Evoking Potentials, Hopes, and Challenges
Details
- Date
- Saturday, January 23, 2027
- Time
- 5:20 PM – 5:30 PM
- Session type
- Concurrent Session
- Schedule
- See this day
About
Neuromodulation incorporating physiologic feedback from stimulated biologic targets to adjust output has been used for a while in cardiac pacemakers and deep brain stimulators but it is a relatively new development in spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Though early research has indicated the potential for more effective stimulation with closed-loop SCS while avoiding unwanted stimulation, questions abound about effectiveness and durability of closed-loop SCS. Further, as the algorithm for closed-loop SCS was developed with low-frequency tonic stimulation, it's potential use with higher frequency SCS modes remains unclear. This session will focus on enumerating the modalities for adaptive SCS, understanding the algorithms of closed-loop SCS including evoked compound action potentials, discussing the evidence for its efficacy, and exploring its role with higher frequency modes of SCS. The speakers in this session have clinical and research experience in evaluating new modes of SCS, explaining the applicability of closed loop SCS to the audience, identifying the lacunae in evidence, and proposing areas for further research.
Presenters
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Anuj Bhatia is a Professor in the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto and the Director of the Comprehensive Integrated Pain Program at University Health Network, Toronto. He is the Chair of the Neuropathic Pain Special Interest Group of the Canadian Pain Society, President of the Canadian Neuromodulation Society, Co-Chair of the North American Neuromodulation Society’s Research Committee and a Vice-Chair of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine’s Research Committee. He has an Adjunct Faculty appointment at the Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation. His research interests include the use of epidemiological tools and wearable technology for assessing outcomes of neuromodulation and other interventional treatments for chronic pain. He has published over 100 papers, 6 book chapters, and co-authored two books on interventional pain procedures. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of Anesthesia & Analgesia, Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, the European Journal of Pain, Canadian Journal of Pain, Pain Medicine, and Neuromodulation - Technology at the Neural Interface. He was a member of the international guideline development panel for the use of intravenous ketamine infusions, cervical and lumbar facet, and sacroiliac joint interventions for relieving pain.
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Sandy Christiansen, MD, MCR
Associate Professor
Oregon Health and Science University · Portland, Oregon
Dr. Sandy Christiansen is double board-certified Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at OHSU. She serves as the Lead Physician for the Cancer Pain Program at the OHSU Comprehensive Pain Center, where she specializes in multimodal and interventional treatments for cancer, spine, headaches and neuropathic pain.
A recognized leader in cancer-related pain, Dr. Christiansen received the Dr. Lisa Stearns Award in 2022 for national clinical excellence in cancer pain interventional procedures. She has held several prominent leadership roles, including having served as the Chronic Pain Annual Meeting Chair for American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA), Vice Chair of Translational Research for American Society of Pain & Neuroscience (ASPN) and Executive Committee Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Pacific Spine & Pain Society (PSPS).
Her dedication to education has earned her multiple honors, including the OHSU Dr. Edward J. Keenan Faculty Award for Distinguished Teaching and Preceptor of the Year Award.
Dr. Christiansen’s scholarly work focuses on pain education and cancer-related pain interventions.
She earned her medical degree from Loyola University Chicago, completed her pain medicine fellowship at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, and holds a Masters in Clinical Research from OHSU.