A system and methods for performing neurophysiologic assessments during surgery, such as assessing the health of the spinal cord via at least one of MEP and SSEP monitoring and assessing bone integrity, nerve proximity, neuromuscular pathway, and nerve pathology during spine surgery.

Methods and devices for improved precision in finding one or more nerves and then interrupting the transmission of neural signals through the target nerve. The treated nerve can be rendered incapable of transmitting neural signals for a select duration of time, where such a duration can be on a temporarily basis (e.g., hours, days or weeks) or a longer term/permanent basis e.g., months or years). One embodiment of the apparatus includes a precise energy source system which features energy transfer elements that are capable of creating areas of nerve destruction, inhibition and ablation with precision.

Arrangements are described for determining a physiological characteristic of the auditory pathway (as whole or selected parts such as an inner ear). Electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to inner ear neural tissue and corresponding tissue response signals are developed by measuring over time response of the auditory pathway to each electrical stimulation pulse, with each tissue response signal forming a response curve including at least one physiological landmark such as a local maximum and a local minimum. A multi-dimensional polynomial is fit over the tissue response signals, and calculation starting points are defined based on prominent physiologic landmarks such as a local maximum and a local minimum for one selected tissue response signal. A line of minimum principal curvature of the multi-dimensional polynomial over the plurality of tissue response signals that intersect the calculation starting points is calculated to determine a physiological characteristic of the auditory pathway.

Compositions, systems, devices, and methods for performing precise chemical treatment of tissues are disclosed. Systems, devices, and methods for administering a chemical agent to one or more a precise regions within a tissue mass are disclosed. Compositions, systems, devices, and methods for treating targeted regions within a tissue mass are disclosed.

One aspect relates to a layered structure with a substrate, a first layer over the substrate, and a second layer over the first layer. The substrate and the second layer are an electrically conductive material and the first layer is an insulating material or the substrate and the second layer are insulating material and the first layer is electrically conductive material. At least one of the first and second layers includes an electrically conductive polymer.

The present invention relates to devices and methods of use thereof for detection of biomolecules, in vitro, in vivo, or in situ. The invention relates to methods of diagnosing and/or treating a subject as having or being at risk of developing a disease or condition that is associated with abnormal levels of one or more biomolecules including, but not limited to, inter alia, epilepsy, diseases of the basal ganglia, athetoid, dystonic diseases, neoplasms, Parkinson's disease, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and cancer. The invention also provides methods of differentiating white matter from gray matter. In some embodiments, regions of the brain to be resected or targeted for pharmaceutical therapy are identified using sensors. The invention further provides methods of measuring the neurotoxicity of a material by comparing microvoltammograms of a neural tissue in the presence and absence of the material using the inventive sensors.

A system and methods for performing neurophysiology assessments during surgery, such as assessing the health of the spinal cord via at least one of MEP and SSEP monitoring and assessing bone integrity, nerve proximity, neuromuscular pathway, and nerve pathology during spine surgery.

Disclosed are compounds and methods useful in the detection of e.g., Zn.sup.2+, in vitro and in vivo. The compounds include amino acids and peptides functionalized with a moiety that binds, e.g., Zn.sub.2+. Importantly, the compounds do not exhibit substantial fluorescence in the absence of zinc.

Methods and devices for improved precision in finding one or more nerves and then interrupting the transmission of neural signals through the target nerve. The treated nerve can be rendered incapable of transmitting neural signals for a select duration of time, where such a duration can be on a temporarily basis (e.g., hours, days or weeks) or a longer term/permanent basis (e.g., months or years). One embodiment of the apparatus includes a precise energy source system which features energy transfer elements that are capable of creating areas of nerve destruction, inhibition and ablation with precision.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling an entity in response to activity in a peripheral nerve comprising a plurality of fascicles. A multicontact electrode assembly is configured to record activity from the peripheral nerve. A processing component includes a sensor mapping component configured to quantify activity associated with a proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, an evaluation component configured to determine an adjustment of the status of the controlled entity from the quantified activity of the proper subset of the plurality of fascicles, and a controller configured to provide a control signal, representing the adjustment of the status of the controlled entity, to the controlled entity.