The ENA electrode was designed by Dr. A. O. El-Naggar, MD, Dr. B. S. Nashold, MD, and Dr. E. R. Cosman, PhD. Two electrodes are provided, each having an angled distal tip to facilitate the approach to the anatomy of the nucleus caudalis at the cervicomedullary junction while sparing the spinocerebellar tract. The electrodes’ handles enable sure-grip, angulation, and rotation.
The ENA-TC(1.2) Electrode has an exposed lesioning tip with 1.2 mm length and 0.25 mm diameter, an insulated segment with 0.6 mm length, and an insulative shoulder The shoulder is to guard against unwanted inward drift of the tip. It is used at the C1-C2 level.
The ENA-TC(2.0) Electrode has an exposed lesioning tip with 2.0 mm length and 0.25 diameter, an insulative segment of 0.6 mm length, and insulative shoulder. It is used near the obex. Each Electrode has a thermocouple (TC) temperature sensor at its distal-most point for thermal monitoring of the RF lesioning process.
References
- Blaine S. Nashold, Amr El-Naggar, M. Mawaffah Abdulhak, Janice Ovelmen-Levitt, Eric R. Cosman. Trigeminal Nucleus Caudalis Dorsal Root Entry Zone: A New Surgical Approach. Proceedings of the Meeting of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Pittsburgh, PA., June 16-19,1991. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 1992; 59: 45-51.
