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US 9,427,224 B1Granted
Apparatus and methods for surgical access
OwnerDhiraj Jeyanandarajaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for performing assessments while doing surgery using evoked potential somatosensory and/or magnetic field induction to determine the proximity and/or location of nerves relative to surgical instruments when accessing a surgical target site.
Claims19
An apparatus for forming an access path through tissue in a patient's body, comprising:
- an elongate shaft comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized and configured for introduction into a patient's body to create an access path through tissue;
- a ring extending around the shaft and movably coupled to the shaft such that the ring is movable axially from a distal position adjacent the distal tip towards the proximal end to a proximal position;
- a first plurality of stimulating electrodes carried on the ring and configured to contact skin adjacent a puncture site into which the shaft is introduced;
- and
- a plurality of sensors spaced apart from one another at fixed locations on the shaft between the proximal and distal ends.
2 more elements
A method for performing a procedure at a target site within a patient's body, comprising:
- coupling a first set of stimulating elements to the patient's body to selectively activate nerves adjacent the target site;
- inserting a distal end of a shaft of an access device into the patient's body from an access site towards the target site such that a second set of stimulating elements on the shaft contact skin of the patient's body adjacent the access site;
- activating the second set of stimulating elements to deliver stimulating energy into the patient's body;
- obtaining signals from the first and second sets of stimulating elements using a plurality of sensors spaced apart from one another on the shaft via tissue surrounding the shaft and the sensors;
- and
- presenting information regarding a spatial relationship between the shaft and the nerves activated by the first set of stimulating elements to guide introduction of the distal end of the shaft to the target site while avoiding contact with the activated nerves.
3 more elements
A system for forming an access path through tissue in a patient's body, comprising:
- an elongate shaft comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized and configured for introduction into a patient's body to create an access path through tissue, a first plurality of stimulating electrodes movable on the shaft between a distal position and a proximal position and configured to contact skin of the patient's body into which the shaft is introduced, and a plurality of sensors fixed on the shaft and spaced apart from one another between the proximal and distal ends;
- a second plurality of electrodes configured to be coupled to a patient's body to deliver stimulating energy to one or more nerves within the patient's body;
- a controller coupled to the first plurality of stimulating electrodes for delivering first stimulating energy signals to the first plurality of stimulating electrodes and coupled to the second plurality of stimulating electrodes for delivering second stimulating energy signals to nerves within the patient's body, the controller coupled to the sensors for detecting signals from the first and second plurality of stimulating electrodes passing through tissue within which the shaft is inserted and process the signals to determine a spatial relationship between the shaft and nerves within the patient's body activated by the second stimulating energy signals;
- and
- an output device for presenting information related to the spatial relationship between the shaft and the nerves activated by the second stimulating energy signals.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.