Ring electrode

• US 20070213796A1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neurophysiological Concepts LLC
• Original Assignee: Neurophysiological Concepts LLC
• Inventors: McGinnis, William
• Application Number:
  US11/372,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20070213796A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor

Abstract

Devices for eliciting motor evoked potentials during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures are provided, particularly an electrode for directly stimulating a vertebral post.

Claims

1. A stimulating electrode for delivering an electrical stimulus to a subject'"'"'s corticospinal tract, comprising:

a stimulating wire having a distal end connected to a ring portion adapted to be put in contact with a vertebral body post, and a proximal end capable of being put in contact with an electrical stimulus source.

2. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the ring portion is adapted for fitting around the screw portion of the vertebral body post.

3. The stimulating electrode of claim 2, wherein the ring portion has an inner and an outer diameter, and the stimulating wire extends to the inner diameter of the ring portion.

4. The stimulating electrode of claim 3, wherein the ring portion has an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface further comprising a rubber insulator.

5. The stimulating electrode of claim 1, wherein the wire is made of a substance selected from the group consisting of platinum, stainless steel, amidester (Ha), litz, PVC, Teflon®

, nylon, gold, silver/silver chloride, silver, titanium, tin and copper.

6. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the wire is coated with an electrical insulation material.

7. The electrode of claim 1, wherein the ring portion is made of a substance selected from the group consisting of titanium, platinum, stainless steel, silver, silver/silver chloride, tin, copper and gold.

8. The electrode of claim 6, wherein the substance is gold.

9. The electrode of claim 2, wherein the stimulating wire further comprises a male connector and a female connector interposed between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein when the female connector receives the male connector, and the current is provided to the ring electrode.

10. The electrode of claim 9, wherein the female connector is distal to the ring portion.

12. The electrode of claim 2, further comprising a handle connected to the ring portion.

13. The electrode of claim 12, wherein the ring portion is connected to the handle via a bendable joint.