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US 6,466,817 B1Granted
Nerve proximity and status detection system and method
AssigneeNuVasive, Inc.
InventorsNorbert F. Kaula, Jeffrey J. Blewett, James F. Marino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for detecting proximity of a nerve to a proximity electrode and status of nerve. The method of detecting the proximity of the nerve to the proximity electrode applies a first electrical signal with multiple current levels to a calibration electrode. The method applies a second electrical signal with multiple current levels to the proximity electrode. Based on the response of the nerve to the first and second electrical signals, the method determines the proximity of the proximity electrode to the nerve. The method determines the status of the nerve by applying the first electrical signal with multiple signal levels to the calibration electrode.
Claims118
A method of determining nerve status comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying an electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) measuring the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) mapping the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (d) determining the nerve status based on an interpretation of the mapped responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
2 more elements
A method of determining nerve status comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying an electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) measuring the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (c) determining the nerve status based on the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels, including the sub-steps of (i) mapping the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for a fixed latency;
- and (ii) determining the nerve status based on the mapping of the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for the fixed latency, wherein the fixed latency is a function of peaks in each response of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
2 more elements
An article of manufacture for use in determining nerve status, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes control circuitry to perform the steps of:
- (a) applying an electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) measuring the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) mapping the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (d) determining the nerve status based on an interpretation of the mapped responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
2 more elements
An article of manufacture for use in determining nerve status, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes control circuitry to perform the steps of:
- (a) applying an electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) measuring the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (c) determining the nerve status based on the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels, including the sub-steps of (i) mapping the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for a fixed latency;
- and (ii) determining the nerve status based on the mapping of the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for the fixed latency, wherein the fixed latency is a function of peaks in each response of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
2 more elements
An apparatus for determining nerve status, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for applying an electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) means for measuring the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) means for mapping the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (d) means for determining the nerve status based on an interpretation of the mapped responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
2 more elements
An apparatus for determining nerve status, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for applying an electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) means for measuring the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (c) means for determining the nerve status based on the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels, including (i) means for mapping the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for a fixed latency, (ii) means for determining the nerve status based on the mapping of the responses of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for the fixed latency, and (iii) means for determining the fixed latency as a function of peaks in each response of the nerve to the applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
1 more element
A method of determining proximity of a nerve to a second conductive element comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a first electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a first conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) measuring the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) applying a second electrical signal having the plurality of predetermined current levels to the second conductive element;
- (d) measuring the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (e) determining the nerve proximity to the second conductive element based on the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels relative to the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
3 more elements
A method of determining proximity of a nerve to a second conductive element comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a first electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a first conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) measuring the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) applying a second electrical signal having the plurality of predetermined current levels to the second conductive element;
- (d) measuring the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (e) determining the nerve proximity to the second conductive element based on the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels and the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels, including the sub-steps of:
- (i) mapping the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for a first fixed latency;
- (ii) mapping of the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for a second fixed latency;
- (iii) determining the nerve proximity to the second conductive element based on the mapping of the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for the first fixed latency and the mapping of the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for the second fixed latency;
- and (iv) determining the first fixed latency as a function of peaks in each response of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
7 more elements
An article of manufacture for use in determining proximity of a nerve to a second conductive element, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes control circuitry to perform the steps of:
- (a) applying a first electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a first conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) measuring the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) applying a second electrical signal having the plurality of predetermined current levels to the second conductive element;
- (d) measuring the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (e) determining the nerve proximity to the second conductive element based on the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels relative to the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
3 more elements
An article of manufacture for use in determining proximity of a nerve to a second conductive element, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes control circuitry to perform the steps of:
- (a) applying a first electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a first conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) measuring the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) applying a second electrical signal having the plurality of predetermined current levels to the second conductive element;
- (d) measuring the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (e) determining the nerve proximity to the second conductive element based on the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels and the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels, including the sub-steps of:
- (i) mapping the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for a first fixed latency;
- (ii) mapping the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for a second fixed latency;
- (iii) determining the nerve proximity to the second conductive element based on the mapping of the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for the first fixed latency and the mapping of the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for the second fixed latency;
- and (iv) determining the first fixed latency as a function of peaks in each response of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
7 more elements
An apparatus for determining proximity of a nerve to a second conductive element, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for applying a first electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a first conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) means for measuring the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) means for applying a second electrical signal having the plurality of predetermined current levels to the second conductive element;
- (d) means for measuring the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (e) means for determining the nerve proximity to the second conductive element based on the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels relative to the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
3 more elements
An apparatus for determining proximity of a nerve to a second conductive element, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for applying a first electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to a first conductive element located near the nerve;
- (b) means for measuring the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) means for applying a second electrical signal having the plurality of predetermined current levels to the second conductive element;
- (d) means for measuring the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (e) means for determining the nerve proximity to the second conductive element based on the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels and the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels, including:
- (i) means for mapping the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for a first fixed latency;
- (ii) means for mapping the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for a second fixed latency;
- (iii) means for determining the nerve proximity to the second conductive element based on the mapping of the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for the first fixed latency and the mapping of the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels for the second fixed latency;
- and (iv) means for determining the first fixed latency as a function of peaks in each response of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
7 more elements
A method of determining proximity of a nerve to a conductive element comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a first electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to the conductive element while the conductive element is disposed at a first location;
- (b) measuring the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) applying a second electrical signal having the plurality of predetermined current levels to the conductive element while the conductive element is disposed at a second location;
- (d) measuring the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (e) determining the nerve proximity to the conductive element based on the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels and the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
3 more elements
An article of manufacture for use in determining proximity of a nerve to a conductive element, the article of manufacture comprising computer readable storage media including program logic embedded therein that causes control circuitry to perform the steps of:
- (a) applying a first electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to the conductive element while the conductive element is disposed at a first location;
- (b) measuring the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) applying a second electrical signal having the plurality of predetermined current levels to the conductive element while the conductive element is disposed at a second location;
- (d) measuring the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (e) determining the nerve proximity to the conductive element based on the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels and the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
3 more elements
An apparatus for determining proximity of a nerve to a conductive element, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for applying a first electrical signal having a plurality of predetermined current levels to the conductive element while the conductive element is disposed at a first location;
- (b) means for measuring the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- (c) means for applying a second electrical signal having the plurality of predetermined current levels to the conductive element while the conductive element is disposed at a second location;
- (d) means for measuring the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels;
- and
- (e) means for determining the nerve proximity to the conductive element based on the responses of the nerve to the first applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels and the responses of the nerve to the second applied electrical signal for the plurality of predetermined current levels.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.