NEURAL LOCATING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A neural monitoring system comprising:
- an elongate medical instrument having a distal end portion configured to extend within an intracorporeal treatment area of a subject, the elongate medical instrument including a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end portion, each electrode respectively being configured to provide an electrical stimulus;
a non-invasive mechanical sensor configured to be placed in mechanical communication with a muscle of the subject and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle; and
a processor in communication with the elongate medical instrument and the mechanical sensor, and configured to;
receive the mechanomyography output signal; and
determine a relative direction between a nerve and the distal end portion of the elongate medical instrument via the received mechanomyography output signal, wherein the nerve innervates the muscle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A neural monitoring system includes an elongate medical instrument, a non-invasive mechanical sensor, and a processor. The elongate medical instrument has a distal end portion configured to extend within an intracorporeal treatment area of a subject, and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end portion. Each electrode is respectively configured to provide an electrical stimulus.
The non-invasive mechanical sensor is configured to be placed in mechanical communication with a muscle of the subject and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle.
The processor is provided in communication with the elongate medical instrument and the mechanical sensor, and is configured to receive the mechanomyography output signal, and determine a relative direction between a nerve and the distal end portion of the elongate medical instrument using the received mechanomyography output signal.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A neural monitoring system comprising:
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an elongate medical instrument having a distal end portion configured to extend within an intracorporeal treatment area of a subject, the elongate medical instrument including a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end portion, each electrode respectively being configured to provide an electrical stimulus; a non-invasive mechanical sensor configured to be placed in mechanical communication with a muscle of the subject and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle; and a processor in communication with the elongate medical instrument and the mechanical sensor, and configured to; receive the mechanomyography output signal; and determine a relative direction between a nerve and the distal end portion of the elongate medical instrument via the received mechanomyography output signal, wherein the nerve innervates the muscle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A neural monitoring system comprising:
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an elongate medical instrument having a distal end portion configured to extend within an intracorporeal treatment area of a subject, the elongate medical instrument including at least four electrodes disposed on the distal end portion, each electrode respectively being configured to provide an electrical stimulus; a non-invasive mechanical sensor configured to be placed in mechanical communication with a muscle of the subject and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle; and a processor in communication with the elongate medical instrument and the mechanical sensor, and configured to; receive the mechanomyography output signal; and determine a relative direction between a nerve and the distal end portion of the elongate medical instrument via the received mechanomyography output signal, wherein the nerve innervates the muscle. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A neural monitoring system comprising:
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an elongate medical instrument having a distal end portion configured to extend within an intracorporeal treatment area of a subject, the elongate medical instrument including a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end portion, each electrode configured to selectively provide a respective electrical stimulus within the intracorporeal treatment area; a non-invasive mechanical sensor configured to be placed in mechanical communication with a muscle of the subject and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle; and a processor in communication with the elongate medical instrument and the mechanical sensor, the processor configured to; receive the mechanomyography output signal; identify, via the mechanomyography output signal, a mechanical movement of the muscle that is attributable to each of the plurality of respective electrical stimuli; determine a distance between each respective electrode and a nerve; and determine a relative direction between the nerve and the distal end portion of the elongate medical instrument using the determined distances. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification