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Neural locating method

  • US 10,321,833 B2
  • Filed: 10/05/2016
  • Issued: 06/18/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of locating a nerve within an intracorporeal treatment area of a subject, the method comprising:

  • providing a first electrical stimulus at a first location within the intracorporeal treatment area, wherein the first electrical stimulus has a first current magnitude that does not induce a threshold mechanical response of a muscle innervated by the nerve;

    providing a second electrical stimulus at a second location within the intracorporeal treatment area, wherein the second electrical stimulus has the first current magnitude and induces a mechanical response of the muscle that is greater than the threshold mechanical response;

    providing one or more additional electrical stimuli at the second location, wherein the one or more additional electrical stimuli each have a current magnitude less than the first current magnitude;

    wherein each of the first, second, and one or more additional electrical stimuli are provided from a distal end portion of an elongate stimulator;

    wherein the first and second electrical stimuli are provided from an electrode disposed on a central axis of the elongate stimulator;

    wherein the one or more additional electrical stimuli are provided from an offset electrode spaced apart from the central axis of the elongate stimulator;

    monitoring the threshold mechanical response to the first electrical stimulus and the mechanical response of the muscle to each of the second and one or more additional electrical stimuli using a non-invasive mechanical sensor;

    determining, from the one or more additional electrical stimuli, a minimum current magnitude required to induce the threshold mechanical response of the muscle at the second location;

    rotating the offset electrode through a plurality of angular positions about the central axis of the elongate stimulator;

    determining a distance from the second location to the nerve using the determined minimum current magnitude by determining a distance from each of the plurality of angular positions to the nerve; and

    using the determined distance from each of the plurality of angular positions to triangulate a location of the nerve relative to the central axis of the elongate stimulator.

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