Patent ID: 7104965

Claim:
A system for providing nerve mapping, the system comprising: a processor; a pulse generator coupled to the processor; a conductive needle having a first end adapted for insertion into tissue and a second end coupled to a first terminal of the pulse generator; a switch having an input, a control input and a plurality of outputs, the input being coupled to a second terminal of the pulse generator and the control input being coupled to the processor; and a plurality of electrodes arranged into a ring defining a bounded area and each being coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of outputs of the switch, wherein the control input is adapted to receive a plurality of control signals from the processor for selectively coupling the second terminal of the pulse generator to one of the plurality of electrodes, and wherein at least one pulse is applied to the first end of the needle while the conductive needle is positioned in the bounded area to form a communication relationship between the first end of the needle and at least one of the plurality of electrodes for exciting a nerve located in the bounded area.