Neurophysiological apparatus and procedures
AssigneeNuVasive, Inc.
InventorBret A. Ferree
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Neurophysiological instruments and techniques are improved through various enhancements. Stimulation of an instrument is possible while it is advancing into the spine or elsewhere, alerting the surgeon to the first sign the instrument or device (screw) may be too near a nerve. A directional probe helps surgeons determine the location of the hole in the pedicle. Electrically insulating sleeves prevent shunting into the soft tissues. According to a different improvement, the same probe to be used to stimulate different devices, such as screws and wires. Electrical impulses may be recorded from non-muscle regions of the body, including the spine and other portions of the central nervous system as opposed to just the extremities.
Claims12
An instrument for determining directionality during surgery, comprising:
- a rigid probe member having a distal end having a circumference and a longitudinal axis, said distal end circumferentially insulated and configured for advancement into a pedicle and rotatable in the pedicle, and an electrode region situated about only a portion of said circumference and extending along a portion of said longitudinal axis, said electrode region configured to transmit an electric stimulation signal radially from said longitudinal axis to a pedicle;
- a recording electrode;
- and
- a neurophysiology monitoring system communicatively linked to said probe and said recording electrode, and configured to record a stimulus received by the recording electrode caused by the electric stimulation signal of the probe member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.