VARIABLE OUTPUT NERVE LOCATOR

• US 3,830,226 A
• Filed: 06/15/1973
• Issued: 08/20/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carl L. Foltz, David E. Staub
• Original Assignee: Carl L. Foltz, David E. Staub
• Inventors: Staub, David E., Foltz, Carl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/370,223
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2.1R,2.1C,303.1,303.13,303.18,405,406,2.6R,419R 324/51,53
• US Class Current: 600/554
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/908 Patient protection from electric shock

Abstract

An electrically powered nerve locator designed to be used on animal or human bodies comprising an elongated, hollow casing having a conventional direct current power source mounted therein and electrically connected to current regulator means so as to vary the energy output of the locator. A nerve probe is rotably mounted within the casing in circuit with the power source and the current regulator. A flexible conductor is disposed in electrical contact with the current source and a grounding needle is attached to the free end of the flexible conductor wherein the conductor is disposed and dimensioned to allow the needle to cooperatively engage a test aperture formed in the casing between the current source and the current regulator.

Claims

1. A nerve locator device, said device comprising:

a casing, a source of direct current disposed within said casing, current limiting means mounted in said casing in electrical contact with said source, a nerve probe needle rotably mounted in said casing in electrical contact with said current limiting means, conductor means electrically connected at one end with said source, a signal means electrically connected in series with both said conductor means and said source, a grounding needle means electrically connected with said conductor means, and means formed in said casing between said source and said current limiting means for allowing electrical contact between said grounding needle means and a point of contact between said source and said current limiting means.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said nerve probe needle comprises a current conducting probe rigidly mounted in an insulating retainer, the base of said nerve probe needle being configured to selectively engage said current limiting means whereby a predetermined current is passed through said nerve probe needle.

3. A device as in claim 2 wherein said base extends beyond the aft end of said insulating retainer and is angularly oriented as much as 90* or greater to fit into a correspondingly configured slot correspondingly formed in said insulating retainer aft end.

4. A device as in claim 2 wherein said insulating retainer includes an index mark formed thereon in corresponding relation to the point of contact of said nerve probe needle with said current limiting means.

5. A device as in claim 1 wherein said means comprises an aperture formed in said casing in corresponding relation to the point of contact between said source and said current limiting means, said aperture being correspondingly configured as said grounding needle means.

6. A device as in claim 1 wherein said current limiting means comprises a housing having mounted therein a current regulator.

7. A device as in claim 5 wherein said housing comprises a manifold, said manifold having an annular ridge formed about the periphery of the end thereof in contact with said nerve probe needle, said ridge having a plurality of notches formed therein, said current regulator comprises a plurality of resistors, said resistors being mounted in said manifold in corresponding relation to said notches for individual contact with said nerve probe needle whereby a predetermined current is passed through said nerve probe needle.

8. A device as in claim 5 wherein said current regulator comprises a potentiometer, said potentiometer being mounted in said housing and configured for contact with said nerve probe needle at a plurality of points, said contact at each of said points allowing a predetermined current to pass through said nerve probe needle.

9. A device as in claim 1 wherein said signal means comprises a test light bulb and a bulb retainer mounted in said casing electrically connected in series with said conductor means and said source.