SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACIAL NERVE MONITORING

• US 20090033486A1
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Costantino
• Original Assignee: Peter Costantino
• Inventors: Costantino, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/05 Surgical care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/395 Details of stimulation, e.g. nerve stimulation to elicit EMG response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4893 Nerves

Abstract

In accordance with the invention apparatus is provided for monitoring the activity of a surgeon. The apparatus comprises a plurality of wireless sensing units for producing an output indicative of nerve stimulation. A receiver takes the output of the receiver units and produces at its output a plurality of signals each corresponding to the output of one of the plurality of wireless sensing units. An analyzer unit receives the plurality of signals each corresponding to the output of one of the plurality of wireless sensing units from the receiver. An indicator responds to the output of the analyzer unit.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring the activity of a surgeon, comprising:

(a) a plurality of wireless sensing units for producing an output indicative of nerve stimulation;

(b) a receiver capable of receiving the output of said receiver units and producing at its output a plurality of signals each corresponding to the output of one of said plurality of wireless sensing units;

(c) an analyzer unit for receiving said plurality of signals each corresponding to the output of one of said plurality of wireless sensing units from said receiver;

(d) an indicator responsive to the output of said analyzer unit.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said wireless sensing units mechanically sense muscle movement.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said wireless sensing units comprise an inertial transducer.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said wireless sensing units are powered by battery.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said wireless sensing units are powered by induced electricity from an external electromagnetic field.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said receiver is coupled to an antenna contained within a headrest cushion supporting the head of a patient being operated on.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said wireless sensing units are imprinted with an alphanumeric or other visual indicator which appears on a display unit associated with said receiver.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said receiver is coupled to a personal computer and said visual indicator is the display of said personal computer.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said display of said personal computer is a touchscreen, and control functions associated with said apparatus are implemented as programmable, and/or variable and/or touchably actuated icons on the touch screen.

10. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said display includes a plurality of individual displays, each of said individual displays being associated with one of said plurality of wireless sensing units.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said individual displays include an indication of an alphanumeric or other visual indicator which appears on a corresponding wireless sensing unit.

12. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each of said wireless sensing units is irreversibly programmed with an indication of a particular body portion or part or the like.

13. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the output of said receiver is stored for later retrieval in association with an authenticating timestamp signal.

14. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said wireless sensing units output an analog signal.

15. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said wireless sensing units output a digital signal.

16. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said indicator is a display comprising a plurality of individual displays, each of said individual displays associated with a wireless sensing unit, said individual displays providing a meter-like indication of the amplitude of the signal produced by its respective wireless sensing units.

17. Apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said individual displays each change color in response to the amplitude of the signal produced by its respective wireless sensing unit.

18. Apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said indicator includes an alphanumeric or other indication of the position of the area where damage may be occurring.

19. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said indicator is responsive to said analyzer to generate an alarm if a predetermined threshold is exceeded.

20. Apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said predetermined threshold is a threshold in change in the output of a particular wireless sensing unit over a particular period of time.

21. Apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said predetermined threshold is a threshold in change in the value of a particular wireless sensing unit.

22. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said indicator comprises a plurality of screen indicators which are positioned with respect to each other in a manner which mimics the position of the wireless position transducers.

23. Apparatus as in claim 22, wherein said position is detected by said receiver and said indicator is the screen of a personal computer, in which the position of said indicators are arranged by the computer to mimic the position of their respective wireless position transducers.

24. Apparatus as in claim 23, wherein said wireless position transducers are associated with alphanumeric or other visual indicators which correspond to corresponding indicators on said screen indicators.

25. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said indicator includes an alphanumeric or other indication of the position of the area where damage may be occurring.

26. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said indicator varies in a manner which signals the seriousness of the detected condition.

27. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said indicator outputs a normalized signal.

28. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of wireless sensing units are sequentially read.

29. A method for monitoring the activity of the surgeon, comprising:

(a) placing a plurality of wireless sensing units on the face of a facial surgery patient;

(b) monitoring the output of any receiver capable of receiving the output of said receiver units;

(c) said receiver generating an alarm signal in response to the detection of potential nerve damage.