Patent ID: 8337410

Claim:
A system for detecting a defect in a pedicle wall within the spine of a patient, said patient having a spinal nerve lying adjacent to said pedicle, said system comprising: a stimulator configured to generate an electrical stimulus to be applied to said pedicle; a monitor configured to electrically monitor a muscle myotome associated with said spinal nerve to detect if a neuro-muscular response greater than a predetermined minimum amplitude occurs in response to the application of said electrical stimulus to said pedicle; a processor controlled adjuster configured to automatically adjust the magnitude of the electrical stimulus generated by said stimulator until said neuro-muscular response of greater than a predetermined minimum amplitude is detected; and a communicator configured to display, in response to said monitor detecting said neuro-muscular response, the magnitude of the electrical stimulus which caused said neuro-muscular response of greater than a predetermined minimum amplitude.