Automated Positioning Effect Detection Using SEP Waveforms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting positioning effect injuries during surgeries, which occur due to undue tension or pressure on peripheral nervous structures, are not automated and are not widely available, making it difficult to prevent these injuries, especially in non-operating room settings where specialized neurophysiological monitoring is not practical.
Innovation Solution
An automated system that uses somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to detect impending positioning effect injuries by stimulating peripheral nerves and recording electrical waveforms, with a processor to identify changes and alert medical staff, and a table integration unit to adjust the patient's position to alleviate pressure, thereby preventing injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional neurophysiological monitoring systems are used to detect positioning effect injuries, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the core detection function from complex traditional neurophysiological monitoring systems by using only basic electrical impedance measurement capabilities already present in standard surgical tables, eliminating the need for specialized expensive equipment while maintaining injury detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the surgical table's electrical system perform multiple functions: it continues to provide basic surgical table operations while simultaneously detecting positioning effect injuries through electrical impedance measurements, eliminating the need for separate specialized monitoring equipment
2Productivity
If automated detection systems are implemented, then productivity and injury prevention capability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automated injury detection and alerting without requiring specialized external monitoring equipment or additional complex subsystems, using the surgical table's existing electrical infrastructure to provide self-service injury prevention functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the injury detection automation functionality with the existing surgical table control system, merging multiple functions into a single integrated platform rather than adding separate complex automated monitoring equipment
3Reliability
If specialized neurophysiological monitoring is used, then detection reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to limited availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables injury detection functionality to be available in any surgical setting by integrating it into the universally present surgical table infrastructure, eliminating the need for specialized equipment that limits availability to certain centers
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 and prevents positioning effect injuries by automatically adjusting the patient's position based on SEP changes, reducing the risk of prolonged or permanent damage during surgeries, even in settings where traditional neurophysiological monitoring is not available.
Implementation Method 1
A stimulation electrode is coupled to a patient's arm or leg and is operable to stimulate a peripheral nerve of the patient to produce a somatosensory evoked potential
Implementation Method 2
A recording electrode is coupled to the patient's back, head, or extremities and is operable to detect the somatosensory evoked potential produced by the stimulation electrode
Data Source
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AI summary
An automated system, method, apparatus, device and/or computer program product for detecting positioning effect is set forth, the apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment may include an output operable to couple to one or more stimulating electrodes to stimulate one or more peripheral nerves of the patient, an input operable to couple to one or more recording electrodes to record resultant electrical waveforms generated by a nervous system of a patient in response to the stimulating module, and one or more processors operable to identify the positioning effect based on the resultant electrical waveforms.