ELECTROMYOGRAPHY SYSTEM

摘要

A method for detecting the presence of a nerve adjacent the distal end of at least one probe (20, 22). The method includes determining the relative neuro-muscular response onset values for a plurality of spinal nerves; emitting a stimulus pulse from the probe (20, 22); detecting neuro-muscular responses to the stimulus pulse with electrodes positioned at myotome locations (ML1, ML2, ML3, MR1, MR2, MR3) corresponding to the plurality of spinal nerves; and concluding that an electrode (21, 23) disposed on the probe (20, 22) is positioned adjacent to a first spinal nerve when the neuro-muscular response detected in the first spinal nerve is detected as a current intensity level less than or equal to a corresponding neuro-muscular response onset value in the first spinal nerve. Status electrodes (11, 12, 13, 14) are uase to depolarize a portion of the cauda equina in determining the relative neuro-muscular onset values for the plurality of spinal nerves.