Patent ID: 8326410

Claim:
A method for acquiring and analyzing F-waves under a submaximal stimulation condition, the method comprising: (i) applying a series of stimuli of variable intensity to a nerve using a stimulation electrode; (ii) recording a series of early responses; (iii) determining a submaximal stimulation level for F-wave acquisition and analysis, wherein the submaximal stimulation level is an intensity level which is approximately fifty percent of a maximal stimulus intensity, and further wherein the maximal stimulus intensity is an intensity level at which additional increases in stimulus intensity do not lead to further increases in the amplitude of an evoked response; (iv) applying a series of stimuli to a nerve using the stimulation electrode, wherein the series of stimuli are applied at the submaximal stimulation level; (v) recording a series of late responses; (vi) regulating the submaximal stimulation level and acquisition condition based on late response features; (vii) analyzing late response to regulate a processing condition of F-wave features; and (viii) characterizing F-wave features with trace-by-trace and/or total waveform set analysis.