Implantable Electrode Positioning
First Claim
1. A method of surgically positioning an electrode array at a desired implantation location relative to a nerve, the method comprising:
- implanting a temporary probe electrode adjacent to the nerve and at a location which is caudorostrally separate to the desired implantation location of the electrode array;
temporarily fixing the implanted position of the probe electrode relative to the nerve;
during implantation of the electrode array, applying electrical stimuli from one of the temporarily fixed probe electrode and the electrode array, to evoke compound action potentials on the nerve;
sensing, from at least one electrode of the other of the temporarily fixed probe electrode and the electrode array, the compound action potentials evoked by the stimuli; and
determining from the sensed compound action potentials a position of the electrode array relative to the nerve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of surgically positioning an electrode array at a desired implantation location relative to a nerve. A temporary probe electrode is temporarily positioned adjacent to the nerve and at a location which is caudorostrally separate to the desired implantation location of the electrode array. The implanted position of the probe electrode is temporarily fixed relative to the nerve. During implantation of the electrode array, electrical stimuli are applied from one of the temporarily fixed probe electrode and the electrode array, to evoke compound action potentials on the nerve. Compound action potentials evoked by the stimuli are sensed from at least one electrode of the other of the temporarily fixed probe electrode and the electrode array. From the sensed compound action potentials a position of the electrode array relative to the nerve is determined.
56 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of surgically positioning an electrode array at a desired implantation location relative to a nerve, the method comprising:
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implanting a temporary probe electrode adjacent to the nerve and at a location which is caudorostrally separate to the desired implantation location of the electrode array; temporarily fixing the implanted position of the probe electrode relative to the nerve; during implantation of the electrode array, applying electrical stimuli from one of the temporarily fixed probe electrode and the electrode array, to evoke compound action potentials on the nerve; sensing, from at least one electrode of the other of the temporarily fixed probe electrode and the electrode array, the compound action potentials evoked by the stimuli; and determining from the sensed compound action potentials a position of the electrode array relative to the nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for positioning an electrode array at a desired implantation location relative to a nerve, the system comprising:
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a temporary probe electrode configured to be implanted adjacent to the nerve at a location which is caudorostrally separate to the desired implantation location of the electrode array, and configured to be temporarily fixed relative to the nerve while implanted; an electrode array configured to be implanted adjacent to the nerve at the desired implantation location, and comprising at least one electrode configured to evoke or sense compound action potentials; and a controller configured to; cause electrical stimuli to be applied from one of the temporarily fixed probe electrode and the electrode array to evoke compound action potentials on the nerve during implantation of the electrode array; sense from at least one electrode of the other of the temporarily fixed probe electrode and the electrode array the compound action potentials evoked by the stimuli; and determine from the sensed compound action potentials a position of the electrode array relative to the nerve.
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12. A non-transitory computer readable medium for surgically positioning an electrode array at a desired implantation location relative to a nerve, comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of the following:
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computer program code means for, during implantation of the electrode array, applying electrical stimuli from one of the electrode array and a probe electrode which is temporarily fixed adjacent to the nerve at a location which is caudorostrally separate to the desired implantation location of the electrode array, to evoke compound action potentials on the nerve; computer program code means for sensing, from at least one electrode of the other of the electrode array and the probe electrode, the compound action potentials evoked by the stimuli; and computer program code means for determining from the sensed compound action potentials a position of the electrode array relative to the nerve.
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Specification