Patent ID: 7689292

Claim:
A nerve stimulator needle for use with a nerve stimulator that provides electric current in response to settings set by a nerve stimulator operator for use by the nerve stimulator needle to elicit visible muscle twitches in a patient and where the nerve stimulator is located remotely from the nerve stimulator needle, the nerve stimulator needle lacking any user interface to directly control the electric current being provided by the nerve stimulator and otherwise comprising: a needle; a hand-graspable hub from which the needle extends; an electrical tether extending from the hand-graspable hub and being configured to connect to the nerve stimulator to thereby convey the electric current from the nerve stimulator to the needle; a current sense unit disposed within the hand-graspable hub and being configured to detect a presence and amount of electric current being conveyed from the nerve stimulator to the needle; a display driver disposed within the hand-graspable hub and operably coupled to the current sense unit; and a display disposed on the hand-graspable hub and being operably coupled to the display driver, the display being configured to present information regarding the presence and amount of electric current being conveyed from the nerve stimulator to the needle; such that a needle operator who is manipulating the needle via the hand-graspable hub and who is different from the nerve stimulator operator remains informed during a nerve stimulation procedure regarding the presence and amount of electric current then being delivered by the needle to the patient by referring to the display and without looking towards the nerve stimulator itself.