The present invention is directed to a software algorithm that measures the number of corneal nerve fibers in images captured by microscopy including images from patients obtained by in vivo corneal confocal microscopy, a noninvasive technique. The present invention solves a complicated segmentation problem, by exploiting the piece wise linear nature of the nerve fibers—i.e., the nerves are made up of a lot of straight line segments. The image is split into sub-regions, where each sub-region contains nerves mostly running in the same, straight direction. Having the nerves all in straight-lines within a single 2d image region dramatically simplifies the segmentation problem. The image intensities are summed in the direction of the nerves to reduce the 2d representation to a 1d signal having pronounced peaks where the nerves are located.

An apparatus and method for generating magnetic field changes that more accurately conform to the tracts and regions of the brain that includes at least two coils for generating magnetic fields. Timing and/or phase of the magnetic fields generated by the at least two coils establishes relative perceived motion and/or directionality within the nervous tissue

A multifunctional neurophysiologic monitoring and probing system, having a main unit (1), a main wire (2), negative electrode neurophysiologic monitoring and probing parts and positive electrode neurophysiologic monitoring and probing parts; one end of the main wire (2) is connected with the main unit (1); another end of the main wire is divided into two branch wires connecting with the negative electrode neurophysiologic monitoring and probing parts and the positive electrode neurophysiologic monitoring and probing parts respectively.

A system for neuromodulation or neurostimulation comprising at least one sensing unit configured to provide a sensor signal correlating with a physiological value describing neurological function or dysfunction of a patient, at least one control unit, at least one stimulation unit, and at least one of at least one Central Nervous System stimulation module for providing Central Nervous System stimulation or at least one Peripheral Nervous System stimulation module for providing Peripheral Nervous System stimulation, wherein the control unit is configured to detect the neurological dysfunction based on the sensor signal and to trigger the neuromodulation or neurostimulation. The disclosure further relates to a method for providing neuromodulation or neurostimulation and the use of a neuromodulation system in the method for the treatment of a patient.

System and methods for monitoring and/or controlling nerve activity in a subject are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes electrodes configured to be placed proximate to a subject's skin, and a signal detector configured to detect electrical signals using the electrodes. The system also includes a signal processor configured to receive the electrical signals from the signal detector, and apply a filter to the received electrical signals to generate filtered signals, the filter configured to attenuate at least signals having frequencies corresponding to heart muscle activity during a heartbeat. The signal processor is also configured to identify a skin nerve activity using the filtered signals, estimate a sympathetic nerve activity using the identified skin nerve activity, and further to generate a report indicative of the estimated sympathetic nerve activity. In some aspects, the system further includes a signal generator to deliver the electrical stimulation to the subject's skin.

Exemplary aspects of an energy transceiver system are described, such as a wearable body and an energy generator comprising a plurality of generator elements operable to output a plurality of different energy types in a signal direction toward a user when the wearable body is worn. Each generator element of the plurality of generator elements may be independently operable to output one energy type of the plurality of different energy types in the signal direction. A biocompatible adhesive may attach the wearable body to the skin. A controller may cause the plurality of energy generator elements to output an energy signal in the signal direction with one or more energy types of the different energy types. The adhesive may maintain a position of the wearable body relative to the user and an orientation of the signal direction relative to the living tissues(s). Related apparatus, methods, and systems are described.

A method for fabricating electrodes sized and dimensioned to record, measure, and/or stimulate very fine nerve structures (e.g., microscale or less) is described herein. The method can include securing a tip of an electrode, comprising a conductor substantially encased by an insulator, to a proximal portion of an inserter. The electrode can be wound around a proximal portion of the inserter and a portion of the electrode can be secured to a distal portion of the inserter. A tension in the electrode can be maintained during the winding to keep the electrode in place during the winding.

A nerve mapping system includes an elongate medical device, a non-invasive mechanical sensor, and a processor. The elongate medical device includes a distal end portion configured to explore an intracorporeal treatment area of a subject, and the distal end portion includes an electrode. The non-invasive mechanical sensor is configured to provide a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a monitored mechanical response of a muscle innervated by the nerve. The processor is in communication with the electrode and the sensor, and is configured to provide a plurality of electrical stimuli to the electrode. Each of the plurality of stimuli is provided when the electrode is located at a different position within the intracorporeal treatment area. The processor determines the likelihood of a nerve existing at a particular point using the magnitudes of each of the stimuli and the detected response of the muscle.

A system comprises a neuromonitoring system configured to generate nerve data regarding a state of a nerve of a patient during a surgical procedure on the patient. The system includes a robotic system configured to receive or generate, for the surgical procedure, location data that identifies a location of the nerve of the patient. The robotic system may cause the neuromonitoring system to be in either an active state or an inactive state based on the location data, where the active state is a state in which the neuromonitoring system provides the nerve data to the robotic system, while the inactive state is a state in which the neuromonitoring system does not provide the nerve data to the robotic system. The robotic system may further generate at least one control signal that implements one or more safeguards for the surgical procedure.

A method for fabricating electrodes sized and dimensioned to record, measure, and/or stimulate very fine nerve structures (e.g., microscale or less) is described herein. The method can include securing a tip of an electrode, comprising a conductor substantially encased by an insulator, to a proximal portion of an inserter. The electrode can be wound around a proximal portion of the inserter and a portion of the electrode can be secured to a distal portion of the inserter. A tension in the electrode can be maintained during the winding to keep the electrode in place during the winding.