Neurophysiologic Monitoring System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and methods generally aimed at surgery. More particularly, the present invention is directed at a system and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments involving the use of neurophysiology.

1 . A system for avoiding harm to neural tissue during surgery, comprising:
 an instrument capable of advancement to a surgical target site and configured to deliver a stimulation signal at least one of while advancing to said target site and after reaching said target site; and   a processing system programmed with a set of at least three threshold ranges and configured to direct a first stimulation signal to said instrument at a first magnitude corresponding to a boundary between a pair of said ranges, direct a second stimulation signal at a second magnitude corresponding to a boundary between a different pair of said ranges, and measure the response of nerves depolarized by said stimulation signals to indicate at least one of nerve proximity and pedicle integrity.   
     
     
         2 . A system for avoiding harm to neural tissue during surgery, comprising:
 a control unit having a power supply and a processor programmed to receive user commands, activate stimulation in a plurality of predetermined modes, process signal data according to defined algorithms, display received parameters and processed data, and monitor system status;   a patient module in communication with said control unit and configured to be positioned within the sterile field of surgery, said patient module including signal conditioning circuitry, stimulator drive circuitry, and signal conditioning circuitry required to perform said stimulation in said predetermined modes, said patient module including a processor programmed to perform a plurality of predetermined functions including at least two of static pedicle integrity testing, dynamic pedicle integrity testing, nerve proximity detection, neuromuscular pathway assessment, manual motor evoked potential monitoring, automatic motor evoked potential monitoring, somatosensory evoked potential monitoring, non-evoked monitoring, and surgical navigation; and   a plurality of surgical accessories adapted to be coupled to said patient module to perform said predetermined functions.   
     
     
         3 . A system for avoiding harm to neural tissue during surgery, comprising:
 a control unit having a power supply and a processor programmed to receive user commands, activate stimulation in a plurality of predetermined modes, process signal data according to defined algorithms, display received parameters and processed data, and monitor system status;   a patient module in communication with said control unit and configured to be positioned within the sterile field of surgery, said patient module including signal conditioning circuitry, stimulator drive circuitry, and signal conditioning circuitry required to perform said stimulation in said predetermined modes, said patient module including a processor programmed to perform a plurality of predetermined functions including at least two of static pedicle integrity testing, dynamic pedicle integrity testing, nerve proximity detection, neuromuscular pathway assessment, manual motor evoked potential monitoring, automatic motor evoked potential monitoring, somatosensory evoked potential monitoring, non-evoked monitoring, and surgical navigation; and   a plurality of surgical accessories adapted to be coupled to said patient module to perform said predetermined functions.