Systems and Methods for Performing Neurophysiologic Assesments With Pressure Monitoring

Abstract

Systems and methods for performing neurophysiologic assessments of neural tissue including nerve pathology monitoring which may or may not be augmented by adding the ability to assess or monitor the pressure being exerted upon a nerve or nerve root before, during and/or after retraction.

1 . A method for assessing the pathology of a nerve, comprising the steps of:
 retracting a nerve within a patient using a nerve retractor equipped with a pressure sensor;   stimulating said nerve with an electrical stimulation signal delivered by at least one stimulation electrode; and   using at least one sensor to detect neuromuscular responses evoked by said stimulation signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said pressure sensor is linked to a processing unit and said processing unit calculates the pressure exerted on said nerve by said nerve retractor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said processing unit further includes a display, wherein said display provides at least one of alpha-numeric and graphic indicia relating to said calculated pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said alpha-numeric and graphic indicia includes at least one of a maximum pressure value, time value, color, 3-dimensional pressure map, 2-dimensional pressure map, chart, and a graph. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising the additional steps of:
 using a control unit communicatively linked to said stimulation electrode and said sensor to identify a relationship between said stimulation signal and said neuromuscular response.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said control unit includes a display and said display provides at least one of alpha-numeric and graphic indicia relating to said identified relationship. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said identified relationship is the lowest stimulation current necessary to evoke a neuromuscular response. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said control unit is configured to perform a threshold hunting algorithm to identify the lowest stimulation current necessary to evoke a neuromuscular response. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said stimulation electrode is positioned on said nerve retractor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said control unit and said processing unit are a single unit. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said control unit and said processing unit are distinct units.