NERVE PROTECTING DISSECTION DEVICE

• US 20150112325A1
• Filed: 10/18/2013
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atlantic Health System Incorporated A NJ Non-Profit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Health System Incorporated A NJ Non-Profit Corporation
• Inventors: Whitman, Eric D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,022,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0044 Spinal cord
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00446 Brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4893 Nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6877 Nerve

Abstract

The present invention provides an energy based dissection device that automatically provides a nerve protection function. Specifically, the present invention operatively connects nerve monitoring technology and energy based dissection technology to provide a device that provides energy based dissection functionality that cannot operate, or operates differently, upon receipt of real time information from the nerve monitoring functionality that nerve damage may be imminent in the absence of such safety shutdown. The present invention also creates a real-time graphical display of the nerve, including size and location relative to the energy based dissection device to enable the operator to safely and accurately avoid damaging the nerve. Accordingly, the present invention provides a surgical device that removes human error and reaction time issues which prevent unintended dissection and concomitant nerve damage.

Claims

1. A surgical apparatus comprising:

a. a connection to;

(i) an energy source capable of powering the apparatus;

(ii) an energy based dissection device; and

(iii) a nerve integrity monitoring device; and

b. a communication link between;

i. said energy based dissection device; and

ii. said nerve integrity monitoring device wherein said nerve integrity monitoring device is capable of monitoring the integrity of a given nerve;

iii. wherein said communication link is capable of receiving information supplied by said nerve integrity monitoring device and transmitting information to the energy based dissection device;

performing the steps of;

1. receiving information from said nerve integrity monitoring device;

2. interpreting said information;

3. upon determining a nerve integrity reading that indicates that nerve integrity will likely be compromised by continued operation of the energy based dissection device;

4. transmitting a functional control command to said energy based dissection device.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said connection to an energy source is also capable of powering said energy based dissection device.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said connection to an energy source is also capable of powering said nerve integrity monitoring device.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said functional control command is an automatic shutoff of power to the energy based dissection device.

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a manual override to said automatic shutoff of power.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said functional control command is an automatic reduction in power to the energy based dissection device.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a manual override to said automatic reduction in power.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a reset command wherein a baseline reading for the nerve integrity monitoring device may be set at any time relative to the then current location of the energy based dissection device to any point along the nerve to be monitored.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a test energy function wherein a predetermined lower energy burst would be delivered through the energy based dissection device for a predetermined time frame.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising floor mounted operator control command switches.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said floor mounted operator control command switches operate wirelessly.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said nerve integrity monitoring device further comprises the ability to monitor multiple points of nerve integrity.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said multiple points of nerve integrity monitoring provide capability to plot a three dimensional relationship between said energy based dissection device and said nerve.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said nerve integrity monitoring device further comprises vector data allowing said device the ability to perform mathematical vector analysis of said information.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein said vector analysis provides the capability to plot the three dimensional relationship between said energy based dissection device and said nerve.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising external beacons communicatively linked to the nerve integrity monitoring device capable of emitting independent energy pulses of known duration, frequency and power.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein said beacons further possess the capability to receive energy readings.

18. A method of using the device of claim 1 in performing surgery comprising the steps of powering on the device of claim 1, monitoring nerve integrity during surgery, and utilizing the dissection ability of the device of claim 1 to dissect desired tissue.