Patent ID: 8641638

Claim:
A method for testing the structural integrity of a spinal pedicle of a patient through a minimally invasive operative corridor to detect a defect in the structural integrity of a pedicle wall surrounding a pedicle screw path formed through the pedicle, said method comprising: (a) advancing an elongate element to said pedicle via a minimally invasive approach through said patient; (b) advancing a stimulation element through said elongate element to said pedicle, said stimulation element communicatively linked to a controller that directs application of an electrical stimulus; (c) applying an electrical stimulus to said pedicle via said stimulation element; (d) electrically monitoring with a sensor communicatively linked to said controller a muscle myotome associated with a spinal nerve lying adjacent to said pedicle to detect if an onset neuro-muscular response occurs in response to the application of said electrical stimulus; (e) said controller automatically adjusting the magnitude of the electrical stimulus until said onset neuro-muscular response is detected, said controller determining the electrical stimulus magnitude that caused said onset neuro-muscular response; (f) said controller interpreting the electrical stimulus magnitude which caused said onset neuro-muscular response and outputting an indicator indicative of the structural integrity of the pedicle; and (g) redirecting the pedicle screw path when a defect in the structural integrity of the pedicle wall is indicated.