System, method, and computer algorithm and characterization and classification of electrophysiological evoked potentials

When somatosensory EP waveforms are acquired, a method of automatically identifying potential injury to peripheral nerve structures comprising:

• causing, by an automated EP analysis apparatus with an electrical pulse via electrodes, stimulation of a peripheral nerve structure, the automated EP analysis apparatus having a processor and memory;
• recording, by the automated EP analysis apparatus via electrodes placed at the neck or head, signals forming a resultant electrical (EP) waveform generated by the nervous system;
• measuring, by the automated EP analysis apparatus, a change in the recorded EP waveform relative to a baseline response, the change comprising Euclidean distance between the recorded EP waveform and the baseline response;
• comparing, by the automated EP analysis apparatus, the change with one or more threshold change values to classify the recorded EP waveform;
• and
• determining, by the automated EP analysis apparatus, whether a current state of the peripheral nerve structure has changed based on the classification of the recorded EP waveform by determining whether a count of EP waveforms in a classification exceeds a threshold count value.