Other

Neurovision Medical Products, Inc.

James Lee Rea

Stephen William Blakely

William E Davis

Stephen W Blakely

Ryan M Rea

Jerry W Templer

A system for monitoring relative nerve health and the presence of neuropraxia is described. The system utilizes the integration of a waveform function of an elicited or monitored nerve response to provide an indication of the strength of a detected signal from a nerve and thus the relative health and integrity of the nerve. In some embodiments motor nerve stimulation innervates muscle and an EMG waveform is obtained in response thereto. The integration under the waveform is expressed and an indexed value indicating a percentage of a certain threshold value. Methods set forth provide a more reliable status of a nerve in real-time and allow action to be taken to reduce neuropraxia or prevent permanent nerve damage.

Detection of reversible nerve injury

A method of monitoring relative nerve health and the presence of neuropraxia is described. The methods utilize the integration of a waveform function of an elicited or monitored nerve response to provide an indication of the strength of a detected signal from a nerve and thus the relative health and integrity of the nerve. In some embodiments motor nerve stimulation innervates muscle and an EMG waveform is obtained in response thereto. The integration under the waveform is expressed and an indexed value indicating a percentage of a certain threshold value. Methods set forth provide a more reliable status of a nerve in real-time and allow action to be taken to reduce neuropraxia or prevent permanent nerve damage.

Method of detecting reversible nerve injury

Laryngeal surface electrodes are devices designed to hold a conductive surface against the vocal cords in order to pick up small electrical signals from the muscle known as electromyographic signals. Several embodiments of a laryngeal electromyography tube include a conductive electrode surface that is painted, screen printed or otherwise applied directly onto the body of an endotracheal tube, such that the final device has no raised surfaces which can injure the vocal cords. These endotracheal tube with integral laryngeal surface electrodes can be safely used placed for prolonged, continuous monitoring during surgery, after surgery and during intensive care treatment intubation without a need to remove and replace the tube at these various stages of treatment. In one embodiment, one electrode contacts the vocal cords and a second electrode contacts the tongue.

Electrode for prolonged monitoring of laryngeal electromyography

A device for use in a removing fluids and debris from a surgical wound and for location of nerves adjacent to the surgical wound comprises a hollow electrically conductive tube which has a lumen extending from the distal end thereof to the proximal end thereof. Openings are located at the distal end of the tube for suction removal of the fluid and debris. A handle located at the proximal end of the tube is provided for attachment of a second tube which is connected to a vacuum source. Also extending from or located within the handle is attachment means for connecting the conductive tube to an electrical nerve stimulation module. An electrically conductive ball is attached at the distal end of the conductive tube and distal to the openings in the tube. The openings are sized so that at least one dimension thereof is less then the diameter of the lumen to prevent the lumen from becoming clogged with debris having a size greater then the diameter of the lumen which is removed from the surgical wound.

Nerve stimulator with suction capability

An electrode for laryngeal electromyography that is adhesively secured to an insert device, endotracheal tube or other similar device. The attachable surface electrode of this invention consists of a flexible substrate having an anterior and a posterior surface specifically for insertion along the human laryngopharynx and adjacent to the cricothyroideus muscles (the vocal cords). One or more electrically conductive structures are mounted on or formed on the anterior surface of the substrate to provide an electric contact with the cricothyroideus muscles. Insulated wires extend from the electrical conductive structures for transmitting electrical pulses to the cricothyroideus muscles. There is an adhesive material on the posterior surface of the flexible substrate for attachment to an endotracheal tube, insert device, postcricoid paddle or other such device of the attachable substrate so that the electrically conductive structures thereon are properly positioned for laryngeal electromyography.

Attachable surface electrode for laryngeal electromyography

An electrode for laryngeal electromyography that is attachable to an insert device, endotracheal tune or other similar device that is also size adjustable by cutting to size. The attachable and size adjustable surface electrode of this invention consists of a flexible plate having an anterior and a posterior surface specifically for inserting in the human laryngopharynx adjacent to the cricothyroideus muscles (the vocal cords). An electrical conductive plate is mounted on the anterior surface to provide an electric contact with the cricothyroideus muscles. An insulated wire extends from the electrical conductive plate for monitoring or delivering electrical pulses to the cricothyroideus muscles. There are marked graduations parallel to a center line on the electrical conductive plate for cutting and sizing the flexible plate and electrical conductive plate to the size of the patient's laryngopharynx. There is an adhesive material on the posterior surface of the flexible plate for attachment of the attachable and size adjustable surface electrode for laryngeal electromyography to an endotracheal tube, insert device, postcricoid paddle or other such device.

Attachable and size adjustable surface electrode for laryngeal electromyography

A tire low pressure audio warning device for monitoring a tire for low air pressure and sounding an alarm when a low tire pressure condition exists. The tire low pressure audio warning device has a body that attaches to a valve stem of an inner tube or tubeless tire, or to an opening through a rim of the tire. Contained within the body is at least a low air pressure switch, a battery and an audio alarm. The low pressure switch is in air communications with the pressurized air within the tire or the inner tube. The audio alarm is electrically connected to and activated by the low air pressure switch when a low tire pressure exits. A centrifugal switch is provided within the body to prevent the audio alarm from sounding during tire rotation. The centrifugal switch opens when the tire is rotating, and closes when tire rotation is stopped. The battery within the body provides electrical power for the alarm. The alarm is easily heard by a driver, or any one else, when walking past the tire, when the vehicle is stopped or parked. The low pressure setting can be factory set or it can be of an adjustable type. The monitoring device can be used on all tires inflated with air or other gasses.

Tire low pressure audio warning device

An electrode for laryngeal electromyography comprises a curved planar insulator formed by an insulating conformational plate covered with insulating polyethylene foam tape with three conductive surface electrode plates mounted in a spaced apart relation such that two surface electrode plates are on the anterior aspect and one on the posterior aspect. Three flexible electrical wires have one end connected to the conductive electrode plates, and the other end adapted for connection to an electrical signal monitor. A steering tab projects outwardly of the conformational plate and is shaped for inclusion with the twisted electrical wires in a tube of heat shrink type electrical insulator material to provide a handle for manual insertion. The two anterior surface electrode plates are of a width and height to cover the human posterior cricoarytenoid muscle and the insulating conformational plate is of a width and height to allow positioning and retention within the human laryngopharynx in the postcricoid space adjacent the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle of the larynx. The single posterior surface electrode plate is positioned in the posterior laryngopharynx facing the spinal column. A signal generating probe is applied to surgically exposed internal tissue in the area surrounding the recurrent laryngeal nerve, whereby contact between the probe and the laryngeal nerve excites the posterior circoarytenoid muscle and the monitor, thereby indicating to the surgeon the exact location of the nerve.

Self retaining laryngeal surface electrode and method for independent

An electrode for laryngeal electromyography comprises an insulator body having a pair of rigid conductors or posts mounted in a spaced apart relation therein. A pair of flexible electrical wires have one end connected with an associated post, and the other end adapted for connection to an electrical signal monitor. A tab projects outwardly of the insulator body, and is shaped for insertion into a laryngeal ventricle portion of the patient and prevents inadvertent removal of the electrode from a vocalis muscle thereof. The free ends of the posts are embedded into the patients vocalis muscle, and a signal generating probe is applied to surgically exposed internal tissue in the area surrounding the recurrent laryngeal nerve, whereby contact between the probe and the laryngeal nerve excites the vocalis muscle and the monitor, thereby indicating to the surgeon the exact location of the nerve.

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Ventura, CA, United States of America

James Lee Rea