Patent ID: 8321025

Claim:
An apparatus for stimulating and monitoring tissue, the apparatus comprising: an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a circumference, a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the elongate member, the central lumen sized to receive a stylet for advancement of the elongate member slidably thereover; a plurality of stimulating regions fixedly coupled with the elongate member, the stimulating regions arranged along the elongate member and axially spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the stimulating regions disposed near the distal end, the stimulating regions being adapted to pass current into tissue, and wherein at least one stimulating region consists of three independent stimulation electrodes equally spaced apart from one another and separated from one another by an insulator so that each stimulation electrode may be stimulated independently of the other stimulation electrodes, the at least one stimulating region completely surrounding the circumference of the elongate member; a plurality of recording electrodes disposed adjacent to the stimulating regions, the recording electrodes adapted to measure local tissue potentials; and a plurality of conductors coupled with the stimulating regions and the recording electrodes.