Systems and Methods for Performing Neurophysiologic Assessments with Pressure Monitoring

Abstract

Systems and methods for performing neurophysiologic assessments of neural tissue including nerve pathology monitoring which may 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assessing the pathology of a nerve, comprising the steps of:
 retracting a nerve within a patient using a nerve retractor having a plurality of pressure sensors and at least one stimulation electrode situated on a nerve contacting head of the retractor, wherein said at least one stimulation electrode is configured to deliver an electrical stimulation signal to a nerve within a patient;   delivering an electrical stimulation signal to said nerve with said stimulation electrode;   detecting an neuromuscular response evoked by said stimulation signal using at least one electrical sensor in electrical communication with said at least one stimulation electrode to detect neuromuscular responses evoked by said stimulation signal;   using a control unit communicatively linked to said stimulation electrode and said electrical sensor to identify a relationship between said stimulation signal and said neuromuscular response;   calculating the pressure exerted on at least two locations along said nerve by said nerve retractor using a processing unit communicatively linked to said pressure sensors; and   displaying pressure mapping data on a display linked to said processing unit in at least two dimensions based on said calculated pressure exerted on said at least two locations along said nerve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said display further provides at least one of additional alpha-numeric and graphic indicia relating to said calculated pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said alpha-numeric and graphic indicia includes at least one of a maximum pressure value, time value, color, chart, and a graph. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said control unit includes a display and said display provides at last one of alpha-numeric and graphic indicia relating to said identified relationship. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said identified relationship is the lowest stimulation current necessary to evoke a neuromuscular response. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said control unit is configured to perform a threshold hunting algorithm to identify the lowest stimulation current necessary to evoke a neuromuscular response. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said control unit and said processing unit are a single unit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said control unit and said processing unit are distinct units. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure mapping data is 3-dimensional pressure mapping data.