Novel method and apparatus for determining optimal neuromuscular detection sites, novel diagnostic biosensor array formed in accordance with the same, and novel method for testing a patient using the novel diagnostic biosensor array

A diagnostic biosensor array for detecting a bioelectrical signal over a muscle or over a sensory nerve of a patient, the diagnostic biosensor array comprising:

• a body comprising a reference point;
• a stimulation electrode for applying an electrical stimulus to a patient, the stimulation electrode being mounted to the body in a first fixed relation to the reference point;
• and
• a detection electrode for detecting a bioelectric potential generated by the patient in response to the electrical stimulus applied by the stimulation electrode, the detection electrode being mounted to the body in a second fixed relation to the reference point;
• wherein the second fixed relationship is determined by previously conducting electrophysiological mapping in a plurality of test subjects using a mapping biosensor array.

A method of quickly and non-invasively determining the location of a point over a muscle or a point over a sensory nerve of a test population, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a mapping biosensor array for locating a point over a muscle or a point over a sensory nerve of a test subject, the mapping biosensor array comprising:
• a body comprising a reference point;
• a stimulation electrode for applying an electrical stimulus to a test subject, the stimulation electrode being mounted to the body in a first fixed relation to the reference point;
• and
• a detection electrode grid for detecting a bioelectrical signal generated by a test subject in response to the electrical stimulus applied by the stimulation electrode, the detection electrode grid being mounted to the body in a second fixed relation to the reference point;
• wherein the detection electrode grid comprises a plurality of sensor cells, and further wherein each of the sensor cells is configured to independently detect a bioelectrical signal generated by the test subject in response to the electrical stimulus applied by the stimulation electrode;
• positioning the mapping biosensor array on a test subject so that the reference point is positioned relative to a known anatomical landmark;
• applying an electrical stimulus to the test subject;
• measuring an evoked bioelectrical response at a each of a plurality of sensor cells;
• and
• repeating the foregoing process for a plurality of test subjects so as to determine, for the majority of the test subjects, a sensor cell associated with the optimal bioelectrical response.

A method for detecting a bioelectrical signal over a muscle or over a sensory nerve of a patient, the method comprising:

• providing a diagnostic biosensor array comprising:
• a body comprising a reference point;
• a stimulation electrode for applying an electrical stimulus to a patient, the stimulation electrode being mounted to the body in a first fixed relation to the reference point;
• and
• a detection electrode for detecting a bioelectric potential generated by the patient in response to the electrical stimulus applied by the stimulation electrode, the detection electrode being mounted to the body in a second fixed relation to the reference point;
• whereby the second fixed relationship is determined by previously conducting electrophysiological mapping in a plurality of test subjects;
• positioning the diagnostic biosensor array on a patient so that the reference point is positioned relative to a known anatomical landmark;
• applying an electrical stimulus to the patient;
• and
• measuring an evoked bioelectrical response in response to the electrical stimulus applied by the stimulation electrode.