Patent classifications
A61B5/4047
APPARATUS FOR INTRAOPERATIVE NEUROMONITORING OF NERVES IN THE PELVIC REGION OF A PATIENT
An apparatus for intraoperative neuromonitoring of nerves in the pelvic region of a patient, having at least one nerve stimulator which can be introduced into the operating area during an operation, and a sensor device which can be attached to at least one pelvic organ of the patient. In order to provide an apparatus of this type, by means of which it is possible to reliably monitor, without a significant delay, the integrity/proper functioning of nerves which act on one or more pelvic organs, i.e. in particular the bladder and/or the rectum, during an operation in the pelvic region of a patient, the sensor device includes at least two sensing electrodes, which can be applied to the pelvic organs, and an impedance measuring device, which is or can be connected to the sensing electrodes and has a display showing impedance changes in the pelvic organs between the sensing electrodes. The stimulation of nerves which are connected to a pelvic organ such as the bladder or the rectum leads to changes in the complex electrical resistance (impedance) in the organ tissues in question, which can act as an indicator of the integrity of a nerve stimulated by the nerve stimulator.
ELECTROCAUTERY SYSTEMS WITH AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF
A cautery safety controller can include a first input to receive a cautery power signal; a first output coupled to a nerve stimulator system; a second input coupled to receive a nerve detected signal; a zero-crossing detector coupled to receive the cautery power signal via the first input and output a nerve sense enable signal via the first output to the nerve stimulator system in response to detecting a zero crossing of the cautery power signal; and a nerve detection decision unit coupled to receive the nerve detected signal via the second input, generate a stop operation signal, and output the stop operation signal via a second output. A cauterizing pencil can be provided with a tap line for providing the cautery power signal. Alternatively, a cautery pad can be provided with a sense electrode for providing the cautery power signal.
POWER CONTROLS FOR AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE POWERED USING ULTRASONIC WAVES
Method and system embodiments for controlling power provided to a device implantable in a subject are described. In some embodiments, a method is performed at the implantable device to receive, from an interrogator, powering ultrasonic waves having a wave power. Then, energy from the powering ultrasonic waves is converted into an electrical signal to power the implantable device. Information that indicates whether more power or less power should be transmitted to the implantable device is transmitted to the interrogator.
CLOSED-LOOP VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION
Devices, systems and methods for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders that include an implantable microstimulator and an external charger/controller wherein the microstimulator is configured to operate using closed-loop feedback. The feedback for the microstimulator can be electrical activity of the vagus nerve and/or heart sensed by the microstimulator. The feedback can be used to modulate the stimulation duration, intensity, frequency, on-time and off-time.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSDERMAL STIMULATION OVER THE PALMAR AND PLANTAR SURFACES
The disclosure describes devices and methods for providing transdermal electrical stimulation therapy to a subject including positioning a stimulator electrode over a glabrous skin surface overlying a palm of the subject and delivering electrical stimulation via a pulse generator transdermally through the glabrous skin surface and to a target nerve or tissue within the hand to stimulate the target nerve or tissue within the hand so that pain felt by the subject is mitigated. The pulses generated during the electrical stimulation therapy may include pulses of two different magnitudes.
Peripheral sensory and supersensory replacement system
A sensor-based quantification and analysis system includes an input device including a plurality of sensors that generate an input based on a force. The input device also includes a transmission device that transmits force information based on the input. The system also includes an output device that receives the force information. A processing unit selects, for each of the plurality of sensors, one of a plurality of levels of a likelihood of tissue damage based on the force and a predetermined time period. Further, the output device includes a display that presents or logs the one of the plurality of levels of the likelihood of tissue damage for each of the plurality of sensors.
Closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation
Devices, systems and methods for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders that include an implantable microstimulator and an external charger/controller wherein the microstimulator is configured to operate using closed-loop feedback. The feedback for the microstimulator can be electrical activity of the vagus nerve and/or heart sensed by the microstimulator. The feedback can be used to modulate the stimulation duration, intensity, frequency, on-time and off-time.
Systems and methods for detecting nerve function
The present technology relates generally to the field of electrophysiology and specifically to automated devices, components, systems, and related methods for monitoring potential injury to the nervous system using evoked potentials during intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring.
SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PAIN RELIEF BASED ON FREQUENCY BASED ANALYSIS OF TEMPORAL NOCICEPTIVE SIGNALS
An apparatus, system and technique selectively eliminates the noxious signal components in a neuronal signal by creating an interfering electrical signal that is tuned to a given frequency corresponding to the oscillatory pattern of the noxious signal, resulting in a modified neuronal signal that substantially reproduces a normal, no-pain neuronal signal. The disclosed system and technique of pain relief is based on the hypothesis that the temporal profile of pain signals encodes particular components that oscillate at unique and quantifiable frequencies, which are responsible for pain processing in the brain.
Ocular cranial nerve monitoring system
An ocular cranial nerve monitoring system (OCNMS) that provides continuous measurement of pupillary reactivity in the eye. The system features a sensor component that produces a stimulating light and a recording light and records reflected recording light so as to calculate pupillary diameter and response to stimulation as measured by latency, velocity, and/or amplitude. This system of the present invention may be used for indirect assessment of the 2nd and 3rd cranial nerve (CN 2, CN3) pathways and/or intracranial pressure in patients and may be used intraoperatively. The data obtained from this system may allow for immediate corrective actions, which may help prevent permanent deficits and improve patient safety and surgical outcomes. In some instances, the system may help avoid unnecessary or invasive procedures (e.g., catheters inserted for intracranial pressure monitoring).