Apparatus, system, and method for mapping the location of a nerve

摘要

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for mapping the location of a nerve. The apparatus includes at least one stimulation module, a stimulation detection module, a distance module, and a mapping module. The stimulation module stimulates a nerve with an electrical stimulation current from at least one stimulation electrode. A stimulation detection module detects a muscle reaction resulting from stimulation of the nerve by the at least one stimulation electrode. The distance module uses information from the at least one stimulation electrode and from the stimulation detection module to calculate a distance between the at least one stimulation electrode and the nerve. The mapping module maps a location on the nerve using at least two distances calculated by the distance module and position information of the at least one stimulation electrode for each of the at least two distances calculated.

主权项

1. An apparatus to map the location of a nerve, the apparatus comprising:
a first stimulation electrode configured to stimulate the nerve from a first position, a second stimulation electrode configured to stimulate the nerve from a second position, and a third stimulation electrode configured to stimulate the nerve from a third position, each of the first, second, and third stimulation electrodes remaining stationary during stimulation of the nerve from the first, second, and third positions, and wherein each of the first, second, and third stimulation electrodes is a discrete elongated member configured to penetrate tissue; a muscle electrode that detects a muscle reaction, the muscle reaction resulting from stimulation of the nerve by the first, second and third stimulation electrodes; and circuitry configured to:
process information associated with the first, second, and third stimulations and the muscle reaction to calculate a first, second, and third distance corresponding to the distances between the first, second, and third stimulation electrodes and the nerve;identify a location on the nerve using the first, second, and third distances and position information of the first, second, and third stimulation electrodes for each of the first, second, and third distances; andmap a route of the nerve in three dimensions, wherein the route is determined from the identified location.