Patent ID: 6306100
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: A61B,Y10S

Abstract:
An intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring system including a nerve integrity monitoring instrument for use with at least one electrical stimulus probe as an intraoperative aid in defining the course of a nerve structure within a patient's body by monitoring electromyographic activity within the nerve structure, comprising:a monitoring instrument current source;a current source enabling switch connected with said current source and having a control input;a current detection circuit responsive to said monitoring instrument current source and connected to said current source via said current source enabling switch;a stimulus isolation circuit adapted for connection to an electrical stimulus probe and to the monitoring instrument current source, for passing current from said monitoring instrument current source to the probe;a stimulus controller circuit connected to said current detection circuit and to said current source enabling switch;an impedance detection circuit adapted for connection to the patient's body and calibrated to detect whether the probe is in contact with the patient's body;said stimulus controller circuit including a computer executed algorithm responsive to said impedance detection circuit to provide a control signal to said current source enabling switch control input to close said current source enabling switch in response to detection that the probe is in contact with the patient's body.