Wireless Nerve Integrity Monitoring Sensor Signal Upconversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nerve integrity monitoring systems are hindered by extensive cabling, leading to clutter and inefficiencies in the operating room, and current systems require significant time and power to manage evoked response signals from sensors to a monitoring device.
Innovation Solution
A wireless nerve integrity monitoring system that eliminates cables by using sensors with electrodes, a control module, and a physical layer module to upconvert electromyographic signals to radio frequency signals for wireless transmission to a console interface module or nerve integrity monitoring device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If wireless transmission is implemented to eliminate cabling, then device complexity and clutter are reduced, but power consumption increases due to wireless communication requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless electromagnetic communication system. The sensor module includes a transmitter that converts electromyographic signals to radio frequency signals for wireless transmission to the monitoring device, eliminating the need for physical cables while introducing wireless communication power consumption.
2Reliability
If extensive cabling is used to transmit signals from multiple sensors, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but time management becomes inefficient due to cable routing and connection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cable connection requirement from the sensor system by implementing wireless transmission capability. Each sensor module includes an integrated transmitter that can independently communicate with the monitoring device, eliminating the time-consuming cable routing and connection management while maintaining signal transmission reliability through wireless communication protocols.
3Measurement precision
If sensors are placed close to the nerve being monitored, then measurement precision is improved, but the risk of injury to the nerve increases due to proximity and manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary that allows sensor data to be transmitted without physical cable connections. This eliminates the need for extensive cabling that could inadvertently manipulate or injure the nerve, while maintaining measurement precision through the wireless transmission of electromyographic signals from sensors positioned close to the nerve.
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 wireless system reduces clutter, minimizes time inefficiencies, and decreases power consumption by eliminating the need for extensive cabling, allowing for more efficient and safer monitoring of nerve integrity during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the physical layer module is configured to: receive a payload request from a console interface module or a nerve integrity monitoring device; and based on the payload request, (i) upconvert the first voltage signal to a first radio frequency signal
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor including electrodes, a control module and a physical layer module. The electrodes are configured to (i) attach to a patient, and (ii) receive a first electromyographic signal from the patient. The control module is connected to the electrodes. The control module is configured to (i) detect the first electromyographic signal, and (ii) generate a first voltage signal. The physical layer module is configured to: receive a payload request from a console interface module or a nerve integrity monitoring device; and based on the payload request, (i) upconvert the first voltage signal to a first radio frequency signal, and (ii) wirelessly transmit the first radio frequency signal from the sensor to the console interface module or the nerve integrity monitoring device.