Bipolar handheld nerve locator and evaluator

• US 6,312,392 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garrett D. Herzon
• Original Assignee: Garrett D. Herzon
• Inventors: Herzon, Garrett D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur, Eric F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/544,384
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 600/486, 600/547, 600/554, 600/557, 600/587, 600/595, 607/46, 607/48
• US Class Current: 600/554
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4893 Nerves

Abstract

A hand-held disposable combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator is provided. The device includes a housing that serves as a handpiece and that accommodates a printed circuit board, a DC voltage source and a compressed gas source. Two pre-programmed settings are provided by way of a nerve evaluation switch and a nerve location switch. By choosing a nerve evaluation switch, a pulsed current is sent down one electrical lead that extends outward from the housing. A return electrical lead is provided that also extends outward from the housing in a parallel, but spaced-apart relationship from the other electrical lead. Compressed gas is delivered to the distal ends of the first and second electrical leads by a cannula that is connected to the compressed gas source. It will also be noted that the return or the second electrical lead can also serve as a cannula for the delivery of compressed gas. A fiber optic light guide may also be provided to illuminate the area around the distal ends of the two electrical leads. In a nerve evaluation mode, when the nerve evaluation switch has been activated, a pulsed current is delivered to the first electrical lead. Similarly, in a nerve location mode, a pulsed current is also delivered to the first electrical lead. However, the frequency of the pulsed current in the nerve evaluation mode is less than the frequency of the current in the nerve location mode, the pulse duration in the nerve evaluation mode is less than the pulse duration in the nerve location mode and the amplitude of the current in the nerve evaluation mode is less than the amplitude of the current in the nerve location mode.

Claims

1. A hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator comprising:

a handpiece comprising a housing that accommodates a circuit board connected to a DC voltage source, the circuit board comprising a pulsed current source, the pulsed current source being connected to a first electrical lead, the housing also being connected to a second electrical lead, the first and second electrical leads extending outward from one end of the housing in a parallel and spaced-apart fashion,

the circuit board and pulsed current source being connected to a nerve evaluation switch and a nerve location switch,

movement of the nerve evaluation switch to an activation position causing a first pulsed current to be generated by the pulsed current source and transmitted to the first electrical lead, the first pulsed current having a nerve evaluation frequency, a nerve evaluation pulse duration and a nerve evaluation amplitude,

movement of the nerve location switch to an activation position causing a second pulsed current to be generated by the pulsed current source and transmitted to the first electrical lead, the second pulsed current having a nerve location frequency, a nerve location pulse duration and a nerve location amplitude,

the nerve evaluation frequency being less than the nerve location frequency, the nerve evaluation pulse duration being less than the nerve location pulse duration, and the nerve evaluation amplitude being less than the nerve location amplitude,

the second electrical lead serving as a ground.

2. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 1 further comprising the nerve location frequency ranges from about 5 to about 9 Hz, the nerve location pulse duration ranges from about 300 to about 700 μ

sec, the nerve location amplitude ranges from about 700 to about 1100 ma, the nerve evaluation frequency ranges from about 1 to about 3 Hz, the nerve evaluation pulse duration ranges from about 150 to less than 300 μ

sec and the nerve evaluation amplitude ranges from about 150 to about 250 ma.

3. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 1 further comprising a compressed gas source located within the housing and connected to the circuit board and a cannula connected to the compressed gas source, the cannula, the first electrical lead and the second electrical lead all comprising distal ends, the cannula extending outward from the one end of the housing and between the first and second electrical leads,

movement of either the nerve location switch or the nerve evaluation switch to an activation position causing the compressed gas source to communicate pressurized gas through the cannula and between the distal ends of the first and second electrical leads.

4. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 3 wherein the compressed gas source is a pump.

5. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 4 wherein the pump is of a type selected from the group consisting of solenoid pump, diaphragm pump, rotary pump and vane pump.

6. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 3 wherein the compressed gas source is a canister of compressed gas.

7. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 6 wherein the compressed gas is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, air, nitrogen and helium.

8. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 1 further comprising a compressed gas source located within the housing and connected to the circuit board,

and wherein the second electrical lead comprises a cannula connected to the compressed gas source, the first electrical lead and second electrical lead each comprising distal ends, the first electrical lead extending outward from the one end of the housing and through the second electrical lead,

movement of either the nerve location switch or the nerve evaluation switch to an activation position causing the compressed gas source to communicate pressurized gas through the second electrical lead and between the distal ends of the first and second electrical leads.

9. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 8 wherein the compressed gas source is a pump.

10. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 9 wherein the pump is of a type selected from the group consisting of solenoid pump, diaphragm pump, rotary pump and vane pump.

11. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 5 wherein the second electrical lead comprises a distal end having at least one vent.

12. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 1 further comprising a fiber optic light guide connected to the DC voltage source, the fiber optic light guide extending outward from the one end of the housing and along the first and second electrical leads.

13. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 1 wherein the DC voltage source is a battery.

14. A method of locating a nerve in a patient comprising the following steps:

providing a hand-held combination surgical nerve locator comprising a handpiece comprising a housing that accommodates a circuit board connected to the DC voltage source, the circuit board comprising a pulsed current source, the pulsed current source being connected to a first electrical lead, the housing also being connected to a second electrical lead, the second electrical lead serving as a ground, the first and second electrical leads extending outward from one end of the housing in a parallel and spaced-apart fashion, the circuit board and pulsed current source being connected to a nerve location switch, the housing also accommodating a compressed gas source which is connected to the circuit board and a cannula that is connected to the compressed gas source, the cannula, first electrical lead and second electrical lead all comprising distal ends, the cannula extending outward from the one end of the housing and between the first and second electrical leads,

engaging a patient with distal ends of the cannula and first and second electrical leads,

moving the nerve location switch to an activation position causing the compressed gas source to communicate pressurized gas through the cannula and between the distal ends of the first and second electrical leads thereby removing excess blood disposed between the first and second electrical leads and further causing a pulsed current to be generated by the pulsed current source and transmitted to the first electrical lead.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the compressed gas source is a pump.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the compressed gas source is a canister of compressed gas regulated by a switch.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the compressed gas is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, air, nitrogen and helium.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the second electrical lead is the cannula connected to the compressed gas source.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator further comprises a fiber optic light guide connected to the DC voltage source, the fiber optic light guide extending outward from the one end of the housing and along the first and second electrical leads,

the method further comprising the step of illuminating and area around the distal ends of the cannula and first and second electrical leads with the fiber optic light guide.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the nerve location frequency ranges from about 5 to about 9 Hz, the nerve location pulse duration ranges from about 300 to about 700 μ

sec, the nerve location amplitude ranges from about 700 to about 1100 ma.

21. A method of evaluating a nerve in a patient comprising the following steps:

providing a hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator comprising a handpiece comprising a housing that accommodates a circuit board connected to the DC voltage source, the circuit board comprising a pulsed current source, the pulsed current source being connected to a first electrical lead, the housing also being connected to a second electrical lead, the second electrical lead serving as a ground, the first and second electrical leads extending outward from one end of the housing in a parallel and spaced-apart fashion, the circuit board and pulsed current source being connected to a nerve evaluation switch, the housing also accommodating a compressed gas source which is connected to the circuit board and a cannula that is connected to the compressed gas source, the cannula, first electrical lead and second electrical lead all comprising distal ends, the cannula extending outward from the one end of the housing and between the first and second electrical leads,

engaging a patient with distal ends of the cannula and first and second electrical leads,

moving the nerve evaluation switch to an activation position causing the compressed gas source to communicate pressurized gas through the cannula and between the distal ends of the first and second electrical leads thereby removing excess blood disposed between the first and second electrical leads and further causing a pulsed current to be generated by the pulsed current source and transmitted to the first electrical lead.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the compressed gas source is a pump.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the second electrical lead is the cannula connected to the compressed gas source.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator further comprises a fiber optic light guide connected to the DC voltage source, the fiber optic light guide extending outward from the one end of the housing and along the first and second electrical leads,

the method further comprising the step of illuminating and area around the distal ends of the cannula and first and second electrical leads with the fiber optic light guide.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the nerve evaluation frequency ranges from about 1 to about 3 Hz, the nerve evaluation pulse duration ranges from about 150 to less than 300 μ

sec and the nerve evaluation amplitude ranges from about 150 to about 250 ma.

26. A hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator comprising:

a handpiece comprising a housing that accommodates a circuit board connected to the DC voltage source, the circuit board comprising a pulsed current source, the pulsed current source being connected to a first electrical lead, the housing also being connected to a second electrical lead, the first and second electrical leads extending outward from one end of the housing in a parallel and spaced-apart fashion, the housing also accommodating a compressed gas source connected to the circuit board and a cannula connected to the compressed gas source, the cannula, first electrical lead and second electrical lead all comprising distal ends, the cannula extending outward from the one end of the housing and between the first and second electrical leads,

the DC voltage source being connected to a fiber optic light guide that extends outward from the one end of the housing and along the first and second electrical leads,

the circuit board and pulsed current source being connected to a nerve evaluation switch and a nerve location switch,

movement of the nerve evaluation switch to an activation position causing a first pulsed current to be generated by the pulsed current source and transmitted to the first electrical lead, the first pulsed current having a nerve evaluation frequency, a nerve evaluation pulse duration and a nerve evaluation amplitude,

movement of the nerve location switch to an activation position causing a second pulsed current to be generated by the pulsed current source and transmitted to the first electrical lead, the second pulsed current having a nerve location frequency, a nerve location pulse duration and a nerve location amplitude,

movement of either the nerve location switch or the nerve evaluation switch to an activation position causing the compressed gas source to communicate pressurized gas through the cannula and between the distal ends of the first and second electrical leads and further causing the fiber optic light guide to illuminate the distal ends of the first and second electrical leads,

the nerve evaluation frequency being less than the nerve location frequency, the nerve evaluation pulse duration being less than the nerve location pulse duration, and the nerve evaluation amplitude being less than the nerve location amplitude,

the second electrical lead serving as a ground.

27. The hand-held combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator of claim 26 wherein the second electrical lead is the cannula and the first electrical lead extends through the second electrical lead.