Assignment task: Implantable neural stimulators are used as an external medical intervention to control neural function, overriding native control of defective groups of neurons. They can be used for a variety of clinical purposes, although they are typically only used when traditional (and certainly less invasive) medical interventions have failed to control the condition. Do some brief research in PubMed to learn a little bit about implanted neural stimulators and address the following in your answer:
a. What conditions(s) can be successfully treated by implanted stimulators?
b. For a given clinical condition (pick 1), how does nerve stimulation help with treatment/prevention?
c. What are the drawbacks of using a stimulator for that condition?
d. What is the lifespan of an implantable stimulator, once implanted in the body?
e. Are there recent breakthroughs in stimulator design, materials, battery, leads, etc. that are a significant advantage over previous generations of the device?