System and methods for assessing the neuromuscular pathway prior to nerve testing
First Claim
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1. A surgeon-directed surgical system, comprising:
- an accessory configured to transmit a stimulation signal to a nerve forming part of a neuromuscular pathway including a muscle myotome associated with the nerve;
a sensor configured to detect evoked responses from the muscle myotome; and
a control unit coupled to the accessory and the sensor, the control unit being configured to (a) control under the direction of a surgeon the accessory to transmit stimulation signals, (b) monitor the evoked responses from the sensor, and (c) assess the neuromuscular pathway by identifying a relationship between at least two evoked responses.
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Abstract
The present invention involves a system and methods for assessing the state of the neuromuscular pathway to ensure further nerve tests aimed at detecting at least one of a breach in a pedicle wall, nerve proximity, nerve direction, and nerve pathology, are not conducted when neuromuscular blockade levels may decrease the reliability of the results.
128 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A surgeon-directed surgical system, comprising:
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an accessory configured to transmit a stimulation signal to a nerve forming part of a neuromuscular pathway including a muscle myotome associated with the nerve; a sensor configured to detect evoked responses from the muscle myotome; and a control unit coupled to the accessory and the sensor, the control unit being configured to (a) control under the direction of a surgeon the accessory to transmit stimulation signals, (b) monitor the evoked responses from the sensor, and (c) assess the neuromuscular pathway by identifying a relationship between at least two evoked responses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A surgical system, comprising:
a control unit under the direction of a surgeon configured to (a) transmit via an accessory a stimulation signal to a nerve forming part of a neuromuscular pathway including a muscle associated with the nerve, (b) monitor evoked responses from a sensor associated with the muscle, (c) identify a relationship between the stimulation signal and the evoked responses, and (d) determine at least one of pedicle integrity, nerve proximity, nerve pathology, and status of the neuromuscular pathway.
Specification