Grid Array Nerve Mapping System for Surgical Corridor Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical procedures often result in nerve injuries due to close contact with neural structures, leading to potential long-lasting or permanent damage.
Innovation Solution
A nerve mapping and monitoring system that includes a multi-polar stimulation unit, a grid array of electrodes on surgical instruments, a recording element to detect muscle responses, and a computer system to monitor and display the responses, allowing for identification and avoidance of neural structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If surgical procedures are performed close to neural structures to access deep surgical sites, then surgical productivity and access to target sites is improved, but the risk of nerve injury and neurological damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mapping of neural structures before the actual surgical procedure by delivering test stimulation patterns and recording muscle responses. This advance identification of nerve locations allows surgeons to plan safe operative corridors and avoid neural structures during the main surgical procedure, thus improving surgical productivity while reducing nerve injury risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback during surgery by continuously monitoring for muscle responses when surgical instruments contact or approach neural structures. The computer system analyzes recorded signals and alerts the surgeon to the presence of nerves, enabling dynamic adjustment of surgical approach to maintain safe distances from neural structures while still achieving surgical objectives.
2Measurement precision
If multiple electrodes are used to map neural structures, then measurement precision and neural structure identification accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the neural mapping task into segments by using multiple independently controllable electrodes arranged in arrays on surgical instruments. Each electrode can be individually stimulated and recorded, allowing systematic mapping of different regions. The computer system processes responses from individual electrodes to construct a comprehensive map of neural structures, achieving high localization accuracy through divided measurement points.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instruments are designed with multi-functional capability, serving both as surgical tools for tissue manipulation and as neural mapping devices through integrated electrode arrays. This universal design allows the same instrument to perform both surgical and diagnostic functions, reducing the need for separate specialized equipment while maintaining high measurement precision through multiple electrodes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces the risk of neurological damage during surgery by providing real-time monitoring and mapping of neural structures, enabling surgeons to create safe operative corridors and avoid damaging nerves.
Implementation Method 1
a multi-polar stimulation unit... a grid array, where the grid array can comprise a plurality of electrodes, where each of the plurality of electrodes can be configured to be stimulated by the multi-polar stimulation unit
Implementation Method 2
a recording element, where the recording element can be configured to detect a muscle response elicited by the grid array
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments can include a nerve mapping and monitoring system that can include a multi-polar stimulation unit, an electrical connector, an instrument having a grid array, where the grid array can comprise a plurality of electrodes, where each of the plurality of electrodes can be configured to be stimulated by the multi-polar stimulation unit, a recording element, where the recording element can be configured to detect a muscle response elicited by the grid array, and a computer, where the computer can be configured to monitor the muscle response elicited by the grid array such that neural structures can be identified and avoided.