Apparatus for locating a nerve and for protecting nerves from injury during surgery
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for locating a nerve, comprising:
- a surgical instrument for delivering a stimulus to a nerve;
a detector for detecting a response of the nerve to a stimulus delivered to the nerve by said surgical instrument;
a recorder for recording the intensity of the response of the nerve;
means for evaluating the recorded response of the nerve, wherein said recorded response is evaluated against a predetermined criterion;
a modulator for automatically modulating the magnitude of a subsequent stimulus delivered to the nerve, wherein the modulator modifies the subsequent stimulus delivered to the nerve based on the recorded response of the nerve to the previously delivered stimulus so as to hold the level of the nerve'"'"'s response substantially constant at a predetermined value; and
an indicator for conveying to the user the proximity of the surgical instrument relative to the nerve.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for locating and identifying the function of specific peripheral nerves. In one embodiment, the present invention takes the form of a nerve stimulator which is used to locate nerves to assist in the administration of regional anesthesia. In another embodiment, the nerve stimulator is used to locate, identify the function of, and guard against the inadvertent cutting of specific nerves during surgical procedures. The apparatus of the present invention includes a stimulus delivery means, a response-detecting means and a means for automatically modulating the magnitude of the stimulus.
569 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for locating a nerve, comprising:
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a surgical instrument for delivering a stimulus to a nerve; a detector for detecting a response of the nerve to a stimulus delivered to the nerve by said surgical instrument; a recorder for recording the intensity of the response of the nerve; means for evaluating the recorded response of the nerve, wherein said recorded response is evaluated against a predetermined criterion; a modulator for automatically modulating the magnitude of a subsequent stimulus delivered to the nerve, wherein the modulator modifies the subsequent stimulus delivered to the nerve based on the recorded response of the nerve to the previously delivered stimulus so as to hold the level of the nerve'"'"'s response substantially constant at a predetermined value; and an indicator for conveying to the user the proximity of the surgical instrument relative to the nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification