Method and device for locating a nerve
AssigneeUroMed Corporation
InventorsRichard Epstein, David G. Abichaker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved method and device for locating a nerve based on a closed-loop automated system is described. The device applies an electro-stimulus to a target tissue area and measures and interprets a change in a response evoked by application of an electro-stimulus to determine the location and responsiveness of a nerve. The improvement of the invention comprises a method for determining if the signal of the response is stable prior to application of electro-stimulation to prevent misinterpretation of a response and to enhance the locating accuracy of the device.
Claims37
A device for stimulating and locating a nerve, comprising:
- means for detecting and measuring a signal and a change in the signal;
- means for determining the stability of the signal provided by said signal detecting and measuring means;
- means for applying an electro-stimulus to a plurality of sites within an area of tissue likely to contain the nerve to be located;
- means for interpreting the change in the signal evoked by application of an electro-stimulus detected and measured by said detecting and measuring means to determine the location of the nerve;
- means for automatically modifying the stimulus application site;
- and
- means for indicating the location of the nerve to the user.
A tamescence device for locating the tamescence carvernosal nerve, comprising:
- means for detecting and measuring a signal and a change in the signal evoked by application of an electro-stimulus to the carvernosal nerve;
- means for analyzing the tamescence signal provided by said detecting and measuring means to determine its stability;
- means for applying a stimulus to an area of tissue likely to contain the carvernosal nerve;
- and
- means for interpreting the change in the tamescence signal evoked by application ofthe electro-stimulus to the carvernosal nerve to the determine the location ofthe nerve.
A method for locating the carvernosal nerve, comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting and measuring a tumescence signal;
- (b) determining the stability of the tumescence signal and characterizing the signal as stable or unstable;
- (c) applying an electro-stimulus to a tissue site likely to contain the carvernosal nerve if it is determined that the tumescence signal is stable;
- (d) detecting and measuring a change in the tumescence signal evoked by application of the electro-stimulus;
- and
- (e) interpreting the change in the tumescence signal evoked by application of the electro-stimulus signal.
A method for locating a nerve, comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting and measuring a signal from a nerve fiber, organ or muscle;
- (b) determining the stability ofthe signal and characterizing it as stable or unstable;
- (c) applying an electro-stimulus to a tissue site likely to contain the nerve if it is determined that the signal is stable;
- (d) detecting and measuring a change in the signal due to application of the electro-stimulus;
- and
- (e) interpreting the change in the signal evoked by application of the electro-stimulus.
A method for determining the stability of a signal from a nerve fiber, organ or muscle, comprising the step of recording and analyzing a contrast value of the signal at discrete intervals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.