Neuromuscular Sensing Device with Multi-Sensor Array for Nerve Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical practices face challenges in accurately detecting and avoiding nerves during minimally invasive procedures due to limitations in existing monitoring devices that cover body parts, hindering effective nerve localization and potentially leading to injury.
Innovation Solution
A neural monitoring system with a sleeve-like neuromuscular sensing device equipped with mechanical sensors and communication circuitry, which secures around a limb to monitor muscle responses to stimuli, providing mechanomyography output signals and integrating ancillary functionalities like anesthesia monitoring, to enhance nerve detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ancillary monitoring devices are provided around limbs to cover body parts, then patient monitoring is improved, but access to muscles for nerve detection is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple monitoring functions into a single integrated device. The sensing device incorporates both ancillary monitoring capabilities (such as blood pressure monitoring through integrated cuffs) and neuromuscular monitoring functions (through mechanical sensors detecting muscle responses). This merging allows the device to perform multiple functions simultaneously without requiring separate devices that would compete for space on the patient's limb.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing device is designed with multi-functionality to serve as both an ancillary monitoring device and a nerve detection system. The mechanical sensors can detect muscle responses for nerve localization while the integrated cuffs can monitor blood pressure and other vital signs. This universal design allows one device to fulfill multiple monitoring roles, eliminating the conflict between device coverage and muscle access.
2Device complexity
If traditional monitoring devices are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but nerve detection accuracy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the monitoring function into multiple independent sensor elements arranged in an array. Each mechanical sensor independently detects muscle responses from different locations on the limb. This segmentation allows the system to maintain a relatively simple overall structure while achieving high detection accuracy through the collective data from multiple sensors. The segmented sensor array can localize nerves more precisely than a single sensor would provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional electrical stimulation and detection methods with a mechanical sensing approach. Instead of using complex electrical equipment to detect nerve responses, the system uses mechanical sensors to detect subtle muscle movements and vibrations caused by nerve stimulation. This substitution simplifies the overall system architecture while improving detection accuracy for nerve localization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate devices are used for monitoring and nerve detection, then functional completeness is achieved, but device complexity and setup time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate monitoring devices into a single integrated sensing device. The unified device incorporates mechanical sensors for nerve detection, integrated cuffs for blood pressure monitoring, and other ancillary monitoring capabilities. This consolidation reduces the number of separate devices needed while maintaining complete monitoring functionality, thereby simplifying the overall system and reducing setup time.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing device is designed as a universal platform that can perform multiple monitoring functions simultaneously. It can detect nerve responses through mechanical sensors, monitor blood pressure through integrated cuffs, and provide other ancillary monitoring capabilities. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple specialized devices, reducing device complexity while achieving functional completeness.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate devices are used for monitoring and nerve detection, then functional completeness is achieved, but pre-operative setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple monitoring functions into a single device, the patent eliminates the time required to set up and coordinate multiple separate devices. The integrated sensing device can be applied to the patient's limb as a single unit, reducing the pre-operative preparation time while still providing complete monitoring and nerve detection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is designed to be pre-configured with all necessary sensing and monitoring capabilities integrated before patient application. The mechanical sensors, communication circuitry, and ancillary monitoring functions are all prepared in advance as a unified system, eliminating the need for time-consuming assembly and calibration of multiple separate devices during pre-operative preparation.
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 detects artificially induced neuromuscular responses, reduces pre-operative setup time, and minimizes errors by providing real-time alerts and accurate positioning verification, thereby improving nerve localization and reducing the risk of injury during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
Each mechanical sensor is positioned on the carrier material such that it is operative to monitor a mechanical response of a different muscle group of the limb. Each mechanical sensor then generates a respective mechanomyography output signal corresponding to the monitored mechanical response of its adjacent muscle group.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensing device for detecting an artificially induced neuromuscular response within a limb of a subject includes a carrier material and a plurality of mechanical sensors. The carrier material is operative to be secured around a portion of the limb, and each of the plurality of mechanical sensors are coupled with the carrier material. Each mechanical sensor is positioned on the carrier material such that it is operative to monitor a mechanical response of a different muscle group of the limb. Each mechanical sensor then generates a respective mechanomyography output signal corresponding to the monitored mechanical response of its adjacent muscle group.