System for determining the viability of tissue
First Claim
1. A medical instrument which quantifies the survivability of tissue, said medical instrument comprising:
- a measurement probe having gripping means for gripping tissue, stimulus electrodes for delivering an electrical stimulus, means for sensing movement in tissue gripped by said measurement probe in response to said electrical stimulus, and measurement electrodes for sensing electromyographic activity in tissue gripped by said measurement probe, wherein said stimulus electrodes, said measurement electrodes, and said tissue movement sensing means are mounted on said gripping means;
control means for controlling the generation of said electrical stimulus, for recording and analyzing movement sensed by said tissue movement sensing means and electromyographic activity sensed by said measurement electrodes, and for generating at least one quantity which is representative of the survivability of the tissue as indicated by at least one of the sensed tissue movement and the sensed electromyographic activity; and
circuit means for electrically connecting said measurement probe with said control means and processing electrical signals representing said electrical stimulus, said electromyographic activity, and said tissue movement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
When human intestine becomes damaged due to insufficient blood perfusion (ischemic disease), the damaged tissue must be surgically removed and the remaining tissue sewn together (end-to-end anastomoses). If nonviable tissue is not removed the result can be fatal while removal of too much bowel can also lead to severe complication. The distinction between viable and nonviable tissue must often hastily be made during urgent operations on critically ill patients. This decision remains a challenge for even the most experienced general surgeon. The system disclosed herein is a medical instrument designed to quantify the survivability of intestine compromised by ischemic disease. This medical instrument evaluates ischemic tissue through the quantification of electrical and contractile activity. The computer-based instrument uses advanced signal processing techniques to remove measurement artifact and physiological variability. It provides the surgeon with immediate information that is useful in predicting long-term bowel viability allowing him to remove (resect) an optimal segment of bowel.
28 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A medical instrument which quantifies the survivability of tissue, said medical instrument comprising:
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a measurement probe having gripping means for gripping tissue, stimulus electrodes for delivering an electrical stimulus, means for sensing movement in tissue gripped by said measurement probe in response to said electrical stimulus, and measurement electrodes for sensing electromyographic activity in tissue gripped by said measurement probe, wherein said stimulus electrodes, said measurement electrodes, and said tissue movement sensing means are mounted on said gripping means; control means for controlling the generation of said electrical stimulus, for recording and analyzing movement sensed by said tissue movement sensing means and electromyographic activity sensed by said measurement electrodes, and for generating at least one quantity which is representative of the survivability of the tissue as indicated by at least one of the sensed tissue movement and the sensed electromyographic activity; and circuit means for electrically connecting said measurement probe with said control means and processing electrical signals representing said electrical stimulus, said electromyographic activity, and said tissue movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A medical instrument which quantifies the survivability of tissue, said medical instrument comprising:
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a measurement probe having gripping means for gripping tissue, stimulus electrodes for delivering an electrical stimulus, means for sensing movement in tissue gripped by said measurement probe in response to said electrical stimulus, and measurement electrodes for sensing electromyographic activity in tissue gripped by said measurement probe, wherein said stimulus electrodes, said measurement electrodes, and said tissue movement sensing means are mounted on said gripping means; and control means for controlling the generation of said electrical stimulus, for recording and analyzing movement sensed by said tissue movement sensing means and electromyographic activity sensed by said measurement electrodes, and for generating at least one quantity which is representative of the survivability of the tissue as indicated by at least one of the sensed tissue movement and the sensed electromyographic activity. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification