Device and means of assessing neuromuscular junction status with higher fidelity

A computerized method for estimating the degree of neuromuscular blockade, comprising:

• applying stimuli to a nerve through a stimulating electrode according to a stimulation protocol, wherein the stimulation protocol provides a plurality of stimulation sequences comprising a plurality of pulses that vary in frequency of pulses in each stimulation sequence of the plurality of stimulation sequences, frequency of each stimulation sequence of the plurality of stimulation sequences, number of pulses in each stimulation sequence of the plurality of stimulation sequences, or all of the above;
• measuring, by a recording electrode, electrical responses of a muscle;
• estimating, by a computing device coupled to the stimulating electrode and the recording electrode, a degree of neuromuscular blockade based on changes in the electrical responses of the muscle during a stimulation sequence of the plurality of stimulation sequences;
• determining, by the computing device, if the stimulation protocol needs to be adjusted, based on the estimation of the degree of neuromuscular blockade;
• and
• adjusting, by the computing device based on the determination that the stimulation protocol needs to be adjusted, based on the estimated degree of neuromuscular blockade, and during the application of the stimuli according to the stimulation protocol, the stimulation protocol.

A system for estimating the degree of neuromuscular blockade, the system comprising a computing device comprising a processor having instructions stored thereon, wherein, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to provide a first set of electrical stimuli to a nerve according to a stimulation protocol;

• measure muscle responses to the stimuli;
• estimate, based on the measured muscle responses, the degree of neuromuscular blockade;
• determine, based on the estimation, when the stimulation protocol needs to be adjusted;
• and then automatically adjusts the stimuli by varying the frequency of pulses in a second set of stimuli, a number of pulses in the second set of stimuli, or both.

A computerized method for estimating the degree of neuromuscular blockade comprising providing a first set of electrical stimuli to a nerve according to a stimulation protocol;

• measuring muscle responses to the stimuli;
• estimating, based on the measured muscle responses, the degree of neuromuscular blockade;
• determining, based on the estimation, when the stimulation protocol needs to be adjusted;
• and then automatically adjusts the stimuli by varying the frequency of pulses in a second set of stimuli, a number of pulses in the second set of stimuli, or both.