Patent ID: 9579503
Date: 2017-02-28
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. An interface module for simultaneous use with an electrical stimulation generator and an electrosurgical unit, the interface module comprising: a first input configured to receive electrical stimulation signals for evoked potential monitoring for locating a nerve, from the electrical stimulation generator; a first set of relays coupled to the first input; a second input apart from the first input and configured to receive radio frequency signals from an RF generator of the electrosurgical unit; a second set of relays coupled to the second input; wherein the interface module is configured such that the first input and second inputs simultaneously receive the electrical stimulation signals and the radio frequency signals, respectively, the electrical stimulation signals differing from the radio frequency signals; an output configured to deliver output signals to a single instrument and coupled to the first set of relays and the second set of relays; a signal detector configured to receive an indication to deliver only one of the electrical stimulation signals and the radio frequency signals as the output signals at a time; and a controller coupled to the first input, the second input, the signal detector, the first set of relays and the second set of relays, the controller configured to selectively energize the first set of relays and the second set of relays based on the indication from the signal detector so as to deliver the corresponding electrical stimulation signals or radio frequency signals to the output.