Stimulation and recording electrode assemblies that are particularly useful for Automatic Period Stimulation (APS). Such embodiments are compatible with nerve monitoring systems to provide continuous stimulation of a nerve during surgery. Certain embodiments include an electrode assembly having cuff including a body and two ears extending from the body. Within the body, at least one electrode is supported and connected to a lead wire assembly. The ears can be brought together to enlarge a gap in the body so that the electrode assembly can be fixated around a nerve. Other embodiments include an electrode assembly including first and second needle electrodes that each have a tip. A body is provided to interconnect the needle electrodes and can be manipulated to move the tips either toward or away from one another. Disclosed embodiments provide nerve monitoring and stimulation in cases where the nerve is only partially dissected.

An implantable electrical contact arrangement comprising at least one electrode element entirely integrated into a carrier substrate of a biocompatible, electrically insulating material, and at least one freely accessible electrode surface enclosed by the biocompatible, electrically insulating carrier substrate. Within at least one space of the carrier substrate, which does not contain an electrode element, the carrier substrate surrounds at least one space containing at least one material with a modulus of elasticity differing from a modulus of elasticity of the material of the carrier substrate.

An access device for accessing an intervertebral disc having an outer shield comprising an access shield with a larger diameter (16-30 mm) that reaches from the skin down to the facet line, with an inner shield having a second smaller diameter (5-12 mm) extending past the access shield and reaches down to the disc level. This combines the benefits of the direct visual microsurgical/mini open approaches and the percutaneous, ultra-MIS techniques.

At least partial function of a human limb is restored by surgically removing at least a portion of an injured or diseased human limb from a surgical site of an individual and transplanting a selected muscle into the remaining biological body of the individual, followed by contacting the transplanted selected muscle, or an associated nerve, with an electrode, to thereby control a device, such as a prosthetic limb, linked to the electrode. Simulating proprioceptive sensory feedback from a device includes mechanically linking at least one pair of agonist and antagonist muscles, wherein a nerve innervates each muscle, and supporting each pair with a support, whereby contraction of the agonist muscle of each pair will cause extension of the paired antagonist muscle. An electrode is implanted in a muscle of each pair and electrically connected to a motor controller of the device, thereby simulating proprioceptive sensory feedback from the device.

An electrode assembly (preferably in the form of a nerve cuff) comprises a base with first and second arms extending from opposite sides of the base, and which, in combination, define an arc. First and second electrically conductive electrodes extend along the inner surface of the first and second arms. Each electrode can comprise a single length of foil can or can comprise multiple discrete foil segments. The foils are electrically isolated from each other. Electrical wires, which are in electrical communication with the each of the foils, extend from the nerve cuff and are adapted to be electrically connected to a signal monitor. When the nerve cuff is applied to a nerve, the foils, in combination, substantially surround the nerve, with the first and second electrodes being on opposite sides of the nerve from each other. Also disclosed is a method of using the nerve cuff to monitor a nerve during a lumbar spinal surgery while the patient is anesthetized and paralyzed.

An optical method (400, 500) can be performed (402) on a cornea of a patient for a time period to detect transient optical changes in one or more nerves of the cornea corresponding to Fast Optical Signals (FOS). A computing device (102) can receive a record of the FOS of the action potentials generated by the one or more nerves of the cornea and analyze (404) the FOS of the action potentials generated by the one or more nerves of the cornea. The analysis (404) can include quantifying (406) a property of the FOS of the action potentials generated by the one or more nerves of the cornea for the time period and comparing (408) the property of the FOS of the action potentials generated by the one or more nerves of the cornea for the time period to a baseline FOS property. A health property of the cornea can be determined based on the comparison (410).

A method for quantitatively assessing muscle contraction of a facial muscle in a person and determining the ability of a treatment material to reduce contraction of the facial muscle is disclosed. The method can include applying an external electrical stimulus to facial skin sufficient to contract a facial muscle, measuring the contractile activity of the contracted facial muscle by measuring the compound motor action potential (CMAP) of the contracted facial muscle to obtain a first average measurement of contractile activity of the contracted facial muscle, administering the treatment material by topically applying the treatment material to the facial skin, and repeating steps (a) and (b) to obtain a second average measurement of contractile activity of the contracted facial muscle.

A monitoring system may include a processor and display system for displaying results from the monitoring. A user may be in a sterile field away from the processor and display system and selected input devices. A controller may be physically connected to the monitoring system from the sterile field to allow the user to control the monitoring system.

A flexible sheet for neurostimulation is described having a flexible non-conductive substrate matrix in which electrodes are embedded along a lower surface. Electrically conductive wires extend from the electrodes through the flexible substrate to another exterior surface of the substrate. Methods of making the flexible sheet and making a device using the flexible sheet are also disclosed.

A system is provided for connecting a surgically implantable neurostimulation device to an neurophysiological monitoring device. The system includes an apparatus connecting the neurophysiological monitoring device to the implanted neurostimulation device. The connecting apparatus includes a port couplable to the neurostimulation device and a plurality of electrode pin connectors extending from the port that are connectable to the neurophysiologic monitoring device. Using the connecting apparatus, signals from the neurophysiologic monitoring device can be transmitted for stimulation and responses can be transmitted to the neurophysiologic monitoring device to enable accurate positioning of electrodes of the neurostimulation device.