Method and apparatus for quantifying nerve and neural-muscular integrity related to pelvic organs or pelvic floor functions
First Claim
1. A method of quantifying nerve and neural-muscular integrity related to pelvic organs or pelvic floor functions comprising:
- providing a probe comprising a body, a distensible member, and a recording electrode, wherein the distensible member has a first end connected to the body and a distal end movable relative to the body, and wherein the recording electrode is attached to the distensible member adjacent the distal end;
placing the probe into the anal canal or vagina;
moving the distal end of the distensible member away from the body to engage tissue of the anal canal or vagina with the recording electrode;
placing a stimulation electrode, connected to a pulse generator, near the spinal cord or sacral nerves;
producing electrical stimulation pulses at the stimulation electrode; and
detecting the resulting electrical activity in the pelvic organs or pelvic floor by the recording electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus for quantifying nerve and neural-muscular integrity related to pelvic organs or pelvic floor functions. In one embodiment, the invention is a method and device to measure muscle or nerve activity in the pelvis or pelvic floor. In a modification of this embodiment, the invention includes means for inducing an efferent nerve signal in the spinal cord or sacral nerves and then measuring the resulting nerve activity of the nerves of the pelvic floor region. In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes placing a probe in the anal canal or vagina, the probe having proximal recording electrodes along its outer surface. In one possible embodiment, the probe has a distensible sheath having recording electrodes located on its outside surface. In another embodiment, the probe has an inflatable balloon at its distal end with recording electrodes located on the outside surface of the inflatable balloon. In a further embodiment, the proximal recording electrodes will be located on the outside of the distal end of the probe itself. In yet another embodiment, a disk having recording electrodes is placed in the rectum in contact with the tissue above the submucous space. In yet another embodiment of the invention, an essentially “C” shaped clip is provided having a core made of a spring-like material.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of quantifying nerve and neural-muscular integrity related to pelvic organs or pelvic floor functions comprising:
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providing a probe comprising a body, a distensible member, and a recording electrode, wherein the distensible member has a first end connected to the body and a distal end movable relative to the body, and wherein the recording electrode is attached to the distensible member adjacent the distal end;
placing the probe into the anal canal or vagina;
moving the distal end of the distensible member away from the body to engage tissue of the anal canal or vagina with the recording electrode;
placing a stimulation electrode, connected to a pulse generator, near the spinal cord or sacral nerves;
producing electrical stimulation pulses at the stimulation electrode; and
detecting the resulting electrical activity in the pelvic organs or pelvic floor by the recording electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of quantifying nerve and neural-muscular integrity related to pelvic organs or pelvic floor functions comprising:
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providing a probe comprising a body, a distensible member, and a recording electrode, wherein the distensible member has a first end connected so he body and a distal end movable relative to the body, and wherein the recording electrode is attached to the distensible member adjacent the distal end;
placing the probe into the anal canal or vagina;
moving the distal end of the distensible member away from the body to engage tissue of the anal canal or vagina with the recording electrode; and
detecting the electrical activity in the pelvic organs or pelvic floor by the recording electrode.
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9. A method of quantifying nerve and neural-muscular integrity related to pelvic organs or pelvic floor functions comprising:
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providing a probe comprising a body, a plurality of wings, and at least one recording electrode, wherein each of the plurality of wings has a first end connected to the body and a distal end movable relative to the body, and wherein the at least one recording electrode is attached to one of the plurality of wings adjacent the distal end;
placing the probe into the anal canal or vagina;
moving the distal end of the plurality of wings away from the body to engage tissue of the anal canal or vagina with the at least one recording electrode; and
detecting the electrical activity in the pelvic organs or pelvic floor by the at least one recording electrode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of quantifying nerve and neural-muscular integrity related to pelvic organs or pelvic floor functions comprising:
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providing a probe comprising a body, a plurality of wings, and at least one recording electrode, wherein each of the plurality of wings has a first end connected to the body and a distal end movable relative to the body, and wherein the at least one recording electrode is attached to one of the plurality of wings adjacent the distal end;
placing the probe into the anal canal or vagina;
moving the distal end of the plurality of wings away from the body to engage tissue of the anal canal or vagina with the at least one recording electrode;
placing a stimulation electrode, connected to a pulse generator, near the spinal cord or sacral nerves;
producing electrical stimulation pulses at the stimulation electrode;
detecting the resulting electrical activity caused by the stimulation pulses at the stimulation electrode in the pelvic organs or pelvic floor by the at least one recording electrode.
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Specification