Patent ID: 7963927

Claim:
A method of determining structural integrity of a bone within the spine of a patient using a neurophysiology system, the bone having a first aspect and a second aspect, said second aspect separated from said first aspect by a width and located adjacent to a spinal nerve, said method comprising: applying an electrical stimulus to said first aspect of said bone; electrically monitoring a plurality of leg muscle myotome locations via a plurality of electromyographic (EMG) sensor electrodes coupled to the leg muscle myotome locations, at least one of the leg muscle myotome locations being associated with said spinal nerve; detecting an onset neuro-muscular response having an amplitude greater than a predetermined positive value in response to the application of said electrical stimulus to said first aspect of said bone by automatically increasing said electrical stimulus in constant increments until said onset neuro-muscular response is detected by one or more of the EMG sensor electrodes, wherein said automatic increasing is controlled by said neurophysiology system; and displaying on an integrated display device of said neurophysiology system while viewed by a surgeon operating on the patient's spine an onset electrical stimulus current level which causes said onset neuro-muscular response.