Nerve electrode
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrode assembly comprising:
- a nerve-engaging portion including;
a pair of generally arcuate fingers, with each finger including a proximal end, a distal end, and a first side surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end; and
a base hinge portion from which the respective fingers extend and configured to cause movement of the fingers between a closed position in which the first side surface of the respective fingers are releasably, slidably engaged against each other in a side-by-side relationship to define a lumen and an open position in which distal ends of the fingers are spaced apart to provide access to the lumen, wherein the base hinge portion supports an electrode contact exposed at a surface of the lumen with the exposed electrode contact being separate from, and independent of, the fingers, wherein each finger is configured with a radial length sufficient to cause the distal end of each finger to releasably contact a portion of the base hinge portion when the fingers are in the closed position;
an actuator mechanism including a pair of grip members, both extending outwardly from the base hinge portion and spaced apart from each other such that a releasable pressing action of the grip members relative to each other causes movement of the fingers from the closed position to the open position; and
an electrical lead extending through one of the respective grip members to be in electrical communication with the electrode contact.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A nerve monitoring system facilitates monitoring an integrity of a nerve.
261 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An electrode assembly comprising:
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a nerve-engaging portion including; a pair of generally arcuate fingers, with each finger including a proximal end, a distal end, and a first side surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end; and a base hinge portion from which the respective fingers extend and configured to cause movement of the fingers between a closed position in which the first side surface of the respective fingers are releasably, slidably engaged against each other in a side-by-side relationship to define a lumen and an open position in which distal ends of the fingers are spaced apart to provide access to the lumen, wherein the base hinge portion supports an electrode contact exposed at a surface of the lumen with the exposed electrode contact being separate from, and independent of, the fingers, wherein each finger is configured with a radial length sufficient to cause the distal end of each finger to releasably contact a portion of the base hinge portion when the fingers are in the closed position; an actuator mechanism including a pair of grip members, both extending outwardly from the base hinge portion and spaced apart from each other such that a releasable pressing action of the grip members relative to each other causes movement of the fingers from the closed position to the open position; and an electrical lead extending through one of the respective grip members to be in electrical communication with the electrode contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electrode assembly comprising:
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a nerve-engaging portion including; a pair of generally arcuate fingers, with each finger including a proximal end, a distal end, and a first side surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end; and a base hinge portion from which the respective fingers extend and configured to cause movement of the fingers between a closed position in which the first side surface of the respective fingers releasably, slidably engage each other in a side-by-side relationship to define a lumen and an open position in which distal ends of the fingers are spaced apart to define a gap providing access to the lumen, wherein the base hinge portion supports an electrode contact exposed at a surface of the lumen; an actuator mechanism including a pair of grip members, both extending outwardly from the base hinge portion and spaced apart from each other such that a releasable pressing action of the grip members relative to each other causes movement of the fingers from the closed position to the open position, wherein the pair of grip members includes a first grip member and a second grip member, the first grip member defining an elongate beam that is substantially longer than the second grip member, wherein the base hinge portion includes a central bending region that is offset relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongate beam and wherein the electrode contact is sized and shaped to be in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the elongate beam; and an electrical lead extending through one of the respective grip members to be in electrical communication with the electrode contact, wherein the electrical lead extends through the elongate beam and wherein the elongate beam and the electrical lead extend in a substantially single direction throughout a length of the elongate beam.
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18. An electrode assembly comprising:
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a nerve-engaging portion including; a pair of generally arcuate fingers, with each finger including a proximal end, a distal end, and a first side surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end; and a base hinge portion from which the respective fingers extend and configured to cause movement of the fingers between a closed position in which the first side surface of the respective fingers are releasably, slidably engaged against each other in a side-by-side relationship to define a lumen and an open position in which distal ends of the fingers are spaced apart to provide access to the lumen, wherein the base hinge portion supports an electrode contact exposed at a surface of the lumen, wherein the exposed electrode contact is separate from, and independent of, the fingers, and wherein the first side surface of the respective fingers each include an angled inner edge that forms a generally helical pattern such that the first side surfaces of the respective fingers form supplementary angles relative to one another to cause the first side surfaces of the respective fingers to form a releasably interlocking relationship when the fingers are in the closed position; an actuator mechanism including a pair of grip members, both extending outwardly from the base hinge portion and spaced apart from each other such that a releasable pressing action of the grip members relative to each other causes movement of the fingers from the closed position to the open position; and an electrical lead extending through one of the respective grip members to be in electrical communication with the electrode contact.
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19. An electrode assembly comprising:
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a nerve-engaging portion including; a pair of generally arcuate fingers, with each finger including a proximal end, a distal end, and a first side surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end; and a base hinge portion from which the respective fingers extend and configured to cause movement of the fingers between a closed position in which the first side surface of the respective fingers are releasably, slidably engaged against each other in a side-by-side relationship to define a lumen and an open position in which distal ends of the fingers are spaced apart to provide access to the lumen, and wherein the base hinge portion supports an electrode contact exposed at a surface of the lumen; an actuator mechanism including a pair of grip members, both extending outwardly from the base hinge portion and spaced apart from each other such that a releasable pressing action of the grip members relative to each other causes movement of the fingers from the closed position to the open position, wherein a respective one of the grip members defines an elongate beam; and an electrical lead extending through the respective one grip member to be in electrical communication with the electrode contact, wherein the elongate beam and the electrical lead extend in a substantially single direction throughout a length of the elongate beam. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An electrode assembly comprising:
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a nerve-engaging portion including; a pair of generally arcuate fingers, with each finger including a proximal end, a distal end, and a first side surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end; and a base hinge portion from which the respective fingers extend and configured to cause movement of the fingers between a closed position in which the first side surface of the respective fingers are releasably, slidably engaged against each other in a side-by-side relationship to define a lumen and an open position in which distal ends of the fingers are spaced apart to provide access to the lumen, wherein the base hinge portion supports an electrode contact exposed at a surface of the lumen, wherein the exposed electrode contact defines a first area, and wherein at least a portion of the base hinge portion includes an electrically non-conductive contact portion surrounding the exposed electrode contact to define a second area substantially larger than the first area; an actuator mechanism including a pair of grip members, both extending outwardly from the base hinge portion and spaced apart from each other such that a releasable pressing action of the grip members relative to each other causes movement of the fingers from the closed position to the open position; and an electrical lead extending through a respective one of the grip members to be in electrical communication with the electrode contact. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification