System and method for determining proximity relative to a nerve

Abstract

A system for determining proximity of a surgical device relative to nerve structure includes at least one surgical device having a sensor assembly operably coupled to a processing unit and configured to transmit at least one electrical signal generated by the processing unit through nerve structure to elicit a measurable response there from. The processing unit is configured to calculate a signature property value of nerve structure based on the measurable response and to determine proximity of the nerve structure to the surgical device based on the measurable response. The processing unit is further configured to test the nerve function after completing the surgical procedure.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method for determining proximity of a surgical device relative to a nerve structure, the method comprising:
 placing at least one surgical device having a sensor assembly disposed thereon relative to a target anatomical structure;   transmitting at least one electrical signal from the sensor assembly to elicit a measurable response from the nerve structure;   calculating one or more signature properties of the nerve structure based on the measurable response;   comparing values of the one or more calculated signature properties to at least one other signature property; and   determining proximity of the at least one surgical device relative to the nerve structure based on the comparison between the one or more calculated signature properties and at least one other signature property.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising identifying the target anatomical structure based on the comparison between the one or more calculated signature properties and the at least one other signature property. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising modifying the application of electrosurgical energy to the target anatomical structure based on the determined proximity. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one electrical signal is transmitted from a transmitting electrode of the sensor assembly through the target anatomical structure to a receiving electrode of the sensor assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the transmitting electrode is disposed on the at least one surgical device and the receiving electrode is disposed on at least one other surgical device. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 performing a surgical procedure on the target anatomical structure; and   sending a test electrosurgical signal after completing the surgical procedure to test nerve function of the nerve structure.   
     
     
         16 . A method for determining proximity of a nerve structure during an electrosurgical procedure, the method comprising:
 placing at least one surgical device having a sensor assembly disposed thereon relative to a target anatomical structure;   transmitting at least one electrical signal from the sensor assembly to elicit a measurable response from the nerve structure;   calculating a signature property of the nerve structure based on the measurable response;   determining proximity of the surgical device to the nerve structure based on the measurable response; and   in response to determining proximity of the surgical device is not too close to the nerve structure, selectively applying energy to the target anatomical structure to perform the electrosurgical procedure.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising in response to determining proximity of the surgical device is too close to the nerve structure, notifying a user that the surgical device is too close to the nerve structure. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising in response to determining proximity of the surgical device is too close to the nerve structure, preventing electrosurgical energy from being supplied to the target anatomical structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 sending a test electrosurgical signal after completing the electrosurgical procedure to test nerve function of the nerve structure.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising identifying the target anatomical structure based on the comparison between the calculated signature property and at least one other signature property.