Method of detecting a sacral nerve

摘要

A method of detecting the presence of a sacral nerve in a human subject includes providing an electrical stimulus within an intracorporeal treatment area of the human subject; detecting a physical response of at least one of an external sphincter of the bladder and an external sphincter of the anus; and providing an indication to a user if the detected physical response corresponds to the provided electrical stimulus.

主权项

1. A method of detecting the presence of a sacral nerve in a human subject, the method comprising:
providing an electrical stimulus via a distal end portion of an elongate stimulator disposed within an intracorporeal treatment area of the human subject, wherein the electrical stimulus has a magnitude; detecting a magnitude of a physical response of at least one of an external sphincter of the subject's bladder and an external sphincter of the subject's anus using a mechanical sensor disposed on an elongate sphincter contraction sensor, determining, via a processor in communication with the elongate stimulator and the mechanical sensor, if the physical response was induced by the provided electrical stimulus; determining, via the processor, a distance between the distal end portion of the elongate stimulator and the sacral nerve using the magnitude of the provided electrical stimulus and the magnitude of the physical response; and comparing the determined distance to a threshold; providing a first indicator via a display if the physical response was induced by the provided electrical stimulus and the determined distance is less than the threshold; and providing a second indicator via the display if the physical response was induced by the provided electrical stimulus and the determined distance is greater than the threshold.