A muscle relaxation monitoring apparatus includes a calibration processing section. The calibration processing section is configured to: set an initial stimulation current value as a starting stimulation current value; determine, as a current value variable process, one of a first and a second current value variable process; detect, as a first peak value and a second peak value, amplitude peak values of an electric signal; and detect a stimulation current value of a maximal stimulation of a subject, based on a result of a comparison of the first peak value and the second peak value, and acquires a stimulation current value that is obtained by adding a step current value to the stimulation current value, as the stimulation current value of a supramaximal stimulation of the subject.

A muscle relaxation monitoring apparatus includes a calibration processing section. The calibration processing section is configured to: set an initial stimulation current value as a starting stimulation current value; determine, as a current value variable process, one of a first and a second current value variable process; detect, as a first peak value and a second peak value, amplitude peak values of an electric signal; and detect a stimulation current value of a maximal stimulation of a subject, based on a result of a comparison of the first peak value and the second peak value, and acquires a stimulation current value that is obtained by adding a step current value to the stimulation current value, as the stimulation current value of a supramaximal stimulation of the subject.

A stimulation current value that causes the supramaximal stimulation according to a subject in the muscle relaxation state is detected. A muscle relaxation monitoring apparatus includes a calibration processing section 4 for performing a calibration process that electrically stimulates a nerve which is an observation portion of a subject, by a predetermined stimulation current value at a predetermined stimulation timing, and that acquires a stimulation current value of a supramaximal stimulation exceeding a maximal stimulation of the subject, based on an amplitude peak value of an electric signal that is based on a stimulation response of a muscle due to the electrical stimulation. The calibration processing section 4 performs, when the subject is in an awake state, the calibration process while using a first stimulation timing that is preset, as the stimulation timing, and performs, when the subject is in a muscle relaxation state, the calibration process while using a second stimulation timing that is longer in period than the first stimulation timing, as the stimulation timing.

A stimulation current value that causes the supramaximal stimulation according to a subject in the muscle relaxation state is detected. A muscle relaxation monitoring apparatus includes a calibration processing section 4 for performing a calibration process that electrically stimulates a nerve which is an observation portion of a subject, by a predetermined stimulation current value at a predetermined stimulation timing, and that acquires a stimulation current value of a supramaximal stimulation exceeding a maximal stimulation of the subject, based on an amplitude peak value of an electric signal that is based on a stimulation response of a muscle due to the electrical stimulation. The calibration processing section 4 performs, when the subject is in an awake state, the calibration process while using a first stimulation timing that is preset, as the stimulation timing, and performs, when the subject is in a muscle relaxation state, the calibration process while using a second stimulation timing that is longer in period than the first stimulation timing, as the stimulation timing.

A method for performing an efficient and thorough percutaneous discectomy includes making into the patient a percutaneous incision, which is a small stab wound, no more than approximately 10 mm in length. A stimulated combination neuro-monitoring dilating probe is passed through an approximately 10 mm or less skin incision and into a patient's disc space to establish a safe path and trajectory through Kambin's Triangle. Once a neuro-monitoring dilating probe is in the disc space, a second dilator is placed over the neuro-monitoring dilating probe and impacted into the disc space. Neuro-monitoring dilating probe may then be removed. An access portal optionally combined with a force dissipation device may then be placed over the second dilator and into the disc space. The second dilator is removed and then discectomy instruments may be placed through the access portal to perform the discectomy.

A therapeutic or diagnostic device comprises a wearable electrodes garment including electrodes disposed to contact skin when the wearable electrodes garment is worn, and an electronic controller operatively connected with the electrodes. The electronic controller is programmed to perform a method including: receiving surface electromyography (EMG) signals via the electrodes and extracting one or more motor unit (MU) action potentials from the surface EMG signals. The method may further include identifying an intended movement based at least on features representing the one or more extracted MU action potentials and delivering functional electrical stimulation (FES) effective to implement the intended movement via the electrodes of the wearable electrodes garment. The method may further include generating a patient performance report based at least on a comparison of features representing the one or more extracted MU action potentials and features representing expected and/or baseline MU action potentials for a known intended movement.

A nerve stimulation system including a stimulation probe including a handle and a stimulation head at an end of the handle; a reference electrode; and a control system in communication with the stimulation probe and the reference electrode, the control system configured to generate an electrical stimulation signal that, when delivered to a skin surface of a patient using the stimulation probe, induces an activation potential in a plurality of nociceptors while remaining below a threshold that induces a muscle contractile response.

A functional electrical stimulation (FES) device includes electrodes arranged to apply functional electrical stimulation to a body part of the user. FES stimulation is performed by: receiving values of a set of user metrics for the user; receiving a target position of the body part represented as values for a set of body part position measurements; determining a user-specific energization pattern for producing the target position based on the received target position and the received values of the set of user metrics for the user; and energizing the electrodes of the FES device in accordance with the determined user-specific energization pattern. The determination may utilize an FES calibration database with records having fields containing: values of the set of user metrics for reference users; energization patterns; and values of the set of body part position metrics for positions assumed by the body part in response to applying the energization patterns.

A mobility augmentation system assists a user's movement by determining a corresponding electrical stimulation for the movement. A wearable stimulation array includes sensors, electrodes, an electrode multiplexer, and a controller that executes the mobility augmentation system. The sensors measure movement data, and the mobility augmentation system applies a movement model to the measured movement data. The model can determine different electrical actuation instructions depending on the movement stimulated. For example, to stimulate a knee flexion, the movement model output enables a first set of the electrodes to operate as cathodes and a second set of electrodes to operate as anodes. To stimulate a knee extension, the first set of electrodes can be enabled to operate as anodes and a third set of electrodes as cathodes. The user can provide feedback of the applied stimulation, which the system can use to retrain the model and optimize the stimulation to the user.

A mobility augmentation system assists a user's movement by determining a corresponding electrical stimulation for the movement. A wearable stimulation array includes sensors, electrodes, an electrode multiplexer, and a controller that executes the mobility augmentation system. The sensors measure movement data, and the mobility augmentation system applies a movement model to the measured movement data. The model can determine different electrical actuation instructions depending on the movement stimulated. For example, to stimulate a knee flexion, the movement model output enables a first set of the electrodes to operate as cathodes and a second set of electrodes to operate as anodes. To stimulate a knee extension, the first set of electrodes can be enabled to operate as anodes and a third set of electrodes as cathodes. The user can provide feedback of the applied stimulation, which the system can use to retrain the model and optimize the stimulation to the user.