Neuromonitoring systems and methods for bone fixation or fusion procedures

• US 10,376,206 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2016
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SI-Bone, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SI-Bone, Incorporated
• Inventors: Sand, Paul, Yerby, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Boles, Sameh R
• Application Number:
  US15/085,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20160287171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/846 Nails or pins, i.e. anchors without movable parts, holding by friction only, with or without structured surface A61B17/72, A61B17/86 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4851 Prosthesis assessment or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6847 mounted on an invasive device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6886 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue

Abstract

A surgical procedure to insert an implant into the body of a patient may impinge upon or run the risk of damaging neural tissue during the insertion procedure. To reduce this risk, the implant and instrumentation used during the implantation procedure can be modified or adapted for use as neuromonitoring probes to determine whether a nerve is in close proximity.

Claims

1. A method of inserting an implant into a patient, the method comprising:

inserting a guide pin into the patient at a first site;

delivering a first electrical stimulus through the guide pin while the guide pin is inserted into the patient at the first site;

monitoring a second site for a first electrophysiological signal after the step of delivering the first electrical stimulus;

drilling a bore over the guide pin at the first site with a drill bit;

shaping the bore with a broach; and

inserting the implant into the bore.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering a second electrical stimulus through the drill bit; and

monitoring the second site for a second electrophysiological signal after the step of delivering the second electrical stimulus.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering a second electrical stimulus through the broach; and

monitoring the second site for a second electrophysiological signal after the step of delivering the second electrical stimulus.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering a second electrical stimulus through the implant; and

monitoring the second site for a second electrophysiological signal after the step of delivering the second electrical stimulus.