GARMENT TO FACILITATE ELECTRODE PLACEMENT FOR INTRAOPERATIVE MONITORING
A garment is provided with an electrode and indicia to facilitate placement of the garment. The indicia is used to orient the garment such that the electrode is placed in precise orientation with respect to a stimulation site to facilitate intraoperative monitoring during surgical procedures.
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The present application for patent is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/831,708, titled GARMENT TO FACILITATE NEEDLE ELECTRODE PLACEMENT FOR INTRAOPERATIVE MONITORING, filed Jul. 7, 2010, and incorporated by reference as if set out in full.
REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTThe present Application for Patent is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/724,778, titled Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP) Automated Alert System, filed Mar. 16, 2010, and incorporated herein by reference as if set out in full.
BACKGROUND1. Field
The technology of the present application relates generally to intraoperative monitoring (IOM), and more specifically, to garments and methods of using the garments to facilitate placement of needle or surface electrodes for IOM.
2. Background
During surgery, nerve damage is possible for a number of reasons. For example, one potential complication from surgery may include peripheral neuropathy related to surgical positioning that may in some cases be generally known as an iatrogenic injury. Intraoperative positioning nerve injuries are complications from surgery that may occur from extension or compression of peripheral nerves.
Nerve injuries may be preventable by monitoring nerves or muscle groups innervated by the nerves for degradation of conductivity or the like. Even though preventable in many instances, peripheral nerve injuries still occur during surgery.
Because positioning injuries occur, some surgeries include intraoperative monitoring (“IOM”). The goal of IOM is to identify changes in brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerve function prior to irreversible damage occurring.
IOM typically includes using an evoked potential such as, for example, somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP), brain stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), motor evoked potentials (MEP), and visual evoked potentials (VEP). Generally, the activity associated with evoked potentials are elicited/evoked from a time-locked peripheral stimulus, such as, for example, stimulus to the arms/legs for SEP, noise in the ear for BAEP, or light for VEPs. Electromyography (EMG) recording of induced or mechanical muscle activation is also is used extensively during operative cases. Scalp electroencephalography (EEG) provides data for analysis of more spontaneous global electrocortical activity. Scalp EEG also can be used to monitor cerebral function during carotid or other vascular surgery. In addition, EEG recorded directly from the pial surface, or electrocorticography (ECoG), is used to help determine resection margins for epilepsy surgery, and to monitor for seizures during electrical stimulation of the brain carried out while mapping cortical function.
Looking specifically at SSEP, SSEPs are recorded by stimulating peripheral afferent nerves, usually electrically, and the responses are recorded with the help of scalp electrodes. Because of the presence of nonspecific EEG background activity, the evoked potential must be time-locked to the stimulus and averaged to improve signal-to-noise ratio.
In intraoperative use, the median, or ulnar nerves, at the wrist are the most common stimulation site for upper extremity monitoring. In the lower extremity, the posterior tibial nerve just posterior to the medial malleolus, or common peroneal at the politeal fossa, are used most commonly. Alternative sites of stimulation along the path of the peripheral nervous system also may be used.
Needle electrodes generally are used as they are easier to apply than, for example, surface electrodes that would require the skin to be prepared prior to use. Recording electrodes are placed on the scalp over the correlate sensory cortical areas and over the lumbar and cervical spine. Additionally, electrodes can be placed at the Erb's point for upper extremity SSEP recording and over the politeal fossa for lower extremity recording. A correlation to Erb's point for lower extremity is the popliteal fossa at the back of the knee. The readings are to confirm that stimulus is being delivered.
As can be appreciated, placement of the electrodes in the patient is a part of IOM. A certified or skilled IOM technician must be on-site in the operating room to insert the needle electrodes properly into the patient using conventional methodologies. The on-site skilled IOM technician increases the cost of IOM and often results in many surgeries being conducted without IOM due to their cost and lack of availability in some areas. In some instances, nerve injury may be prevented if IOM had been available. Therefore, there is a need in the art for devices, apparatuses, methods, and the like to facilitate placement of needle electrodes in IOM.
SUMMARYEmbodiments disclosed herein address the above stated needs by providing a garment having needle electrodes. The garment facilitates the implantation of needle electrodes for intraoperative monitoring during a surgical procedure. The garment is made from a fabric having a thickness separating a skin surface adapted to reside proximate to the skin of a patient and a top surface opposite the skin surface. At least one tube resides in the fabric between the skin surface and the top surface, the tube has a stop. A needle electrode cooperatively engages the tube such that the tube is adapted to receive the needle electrode and the needle electrode is adapted to be inserted through the skin of the patient. The needle electrode cooperatively engages a stop such that the needle electrode will be positioned proximate a nerve or muscle to be monitored or stimulated.
The technology of the present application will now be described with reference to the attached figures. While the technology of the present application is described with reference to measuring a sensory evoked potential from a peripheral nerve in the wrist such as, for example, the median, or ulnar nerves, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize on reading the disclosure that the technology of the present application may be used to facilitate stimulating or monitoring of other sites on the scalp, torso, legs, or the like, such as, for example, the posterior tibial nerve just posterior to the medial malleolus, or the common peroneal at the politeal fossa, the median and ulnar nerves at the wrist as well as over the thenar and hypothenar eminence, and other innervated muscle groups. For example, it is possible to stimulate other leg, hand, torso, etc. muscle dermatomes and record a sensory response, sometimes referred to as dermatome-SEP's or D-SEP's. In particular, the present application describes the technology in relation to a garment associated with the hand, wrist, or arm, such as, for example, a glove, a wrist band, a sleeve, or combination thereof. Whereas monitoring associated with the legs may use a garment such as, for example, a stocking or leggings, and monitoring associated with the head may use a garment such as, for example, a skull cap or the like. Additionally, other garments may include multiple pieces such as, for example, a shirt-like arrangement covering the torso, arms, neck, etc. or a full body suit as necessary or required. As such, and for convenience, the technology of the present application will be described with reference to particular exemplary embodiments. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments unless specifically indicated as such. Thus, the examples provided should be considered illustrative of the technology of the present application and not limiting.
Referring now to
As can be appreciated, implanting needle electrode 40 requires a certain amount of precision and experience by a qualified technician. The precision and experience relates to properly locating the needle electrode 40 at an appropriate portion of the arm 30 or hand 32, angling the needle electrode 40 at an appropriate insertion angle α, and inserting the needle electrode 40 an appropriate amount such that the needle electrode 40 can stimulate the nerve, such as, nerve 34. The technology of the present application removes some of the experience a technician would require by providing a garment 50 as shown in
Garment 50 being particularly oriented in relation to anatomy may be ideally suited to carry other equipment associated with medical procedures. For example, a sleeve may be loaded not just with electrodes, but a tube may be used for IV access. Additionally, blood oxygen sensors may be carried on the garment and oriented to measure the oxygen level of the blood. Other medical procedure aids may be provided and the few examples provided should not be considered limiting.
Garment 50 being an orientable garment can be marked with electrode sites 621-n of which 4 electrode sites are provided in the present example and will be further explained below. In this case, the wrist portion and thumb portion facilitate proper orientation of the electrode sites 621-n. Having multiple electrode sites also facilitates identifying which of the available inserted electrodes has the best connectivity between the electrode and the nerve or muscle being stimulated. Also, in the event one electrode site was not available due to, for example, an intravenous arterial line, alternative electrode sites would be readily available.
The garment 50 also may have additional markings or gaps as required by the particular operation that is being performed. For example, as shown, garment 50 may have an opening 64 in the wrist portion 58 such that the anesthesiologist, nurse, surgeon or other personnel may access the arterial line for pharmaceutical administration or the like. Electrode sites 621-n may provide for needle electrodes, surface electrodes, or other electrodes as may be known. While the present application is generally described with respect to needle electrodes, surface electrodes may be aligned at the electrode sites as required for proper use of the garment and systems described herein. Moreover, while described as a single garment, garment 50 may, in fact, be a series of pads or strips (which are identified by reference number 50s) coupled to the skin of the patient instead of a unitary garment 50. The pads may be coupled to the skin of the patient using, for example, an adhesive or the like. In the event the pads use surface electrodes instead of needle electrodes, the adhesive may be an electrically conductive adhesive. To the extent pads were used, the pads would require more instruction for proper orientation. The instruction may include pictorial direction, written direction, or a combination thereof.
Referring now to
Referring to
While
As mentioned above, retraction of the needle may cause bleeding at the insertion site. In one possible embodiment, the garment would be provided, with a tight fit to the patient such that the garment would provide pressure to the wound site to inhibit bleeding. In some cases, however, the pressure provided by the garment alone may not be sufficient to satisfactorily promote clotting and the like. Referring now to
Referring now to
As provided above, garment 50 may be provided with multiple electrodes for any given IOM. Also, once advanced, even a single needle electrode would need to be tested to ensure the needle has been advanced and placed adequately to the nerve to be monitored to allow for proper system operation and the like. With the above in mind,
As mentioned above, removal of the electrode(s) 40 may cause bleeding at the insertion point. In that regard,
Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.
Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.
The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may reside in Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in a user terminal.
The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A garment to facilitate the precise location of surface electrodes adapted to provide a stimulating signal to a nerve to facilitate intraoperative evoked potential monitoring during a surgical procedure comprising:
- a fabric comprising a skin surface and a top surface, the skin surface adapted to be positioned on a portion of the skin on a patient;
- at least one electrode adapted to contact the skin of the patient, the at least one electrode positioned on the fabric and arranged such that when placed on the skin of the patient, the at least one electrode is configured to be in proximity to a stimulation site the stimulation site selected from the group of stimulation sites consisting of: a nerve, a muscle, or a combination thereof; and
- at least one indicia on the fabric, the at least one indicia on the fabric providing to provide orientation for the fabric such that the at least one electrode is adapted to be orientated in proximity to the stimulation site, wherein the fabric is adapted to be fitted such that any operating room personnel may perform the application
2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode is selected from a group of electrodes consisting of: a needle electrode, a surface electrode, or a combination thereof.
3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises a plurality of strips.
4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises a garment adapted to be worn by a patient, the garment selected from a group of garments consisting of: a glove, a wrist band, a skull cap, a shirt, a legging, a pair of leggings, a pair of pants, a full body suit, a neck wrap, or a combination thereof.
5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises a fabric selected from the group of fabrics consisting of: a gauze, a rubber, a foam, a wrap, a cloth, an elastic stocking, or a combination thereof.
6. The garment of claim 3, wherein the plurality of strips comprise an adhesive on the skin surface adapted to adhere the plurality of strips to the skin.
7. The garment of claim 6, wherein the adhesive is a conductive adhesive.
8. A method of placing at least one electrode for intraoperative monitoring of a patient comprising the steps of:
- providing a garment having a skin surface adapted to contact the skin of a patient with at least one electrode on the skin surface;
- arranging the garment on the patient such that the at least one electrode is configured to be oriented in proximity to a simulation site the stimulation site being selected from a group of stimulation sites consisting of: a nerve, a muscle, or a combination thereof during an intraoperative monitoring procedure;
- performing the intraoperative monitoring procedure; and
- removing the garment.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of aligning indicia on the garment with the patient to orient the at least one electrode such that the at least one electrode is configured to be in proximity to a nerve to be stimulated.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of aligning the indicia comprises aligning a wrist, palm, and thumb portion of a glove on a patient.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of aligning the indicia comprises aligning a knee portion of a legging on a patient.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of aligning the indicia comprises aligning a forearm portion of a sleeve on a patient.
13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of manipulating the garment during the surgical procedure.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of manipulating the garment during the surgical procedure comprises removing portions of the garment during the surgical procedure.
15. A garment to facilitate the orientation of at least one electrode to stimulate a nerve during a surgical procedure comprising:
- a fabric adapted to be worn by a patient having a skin surface adapted to reside proximate to the skin of a patient and a top surface opposite the skin surface;
- a surface electrode arranged on the skin surface of the fabric; and
- means for orienting coupled to the top surface the fabric to orient the fabric on the patient such that the surface electrode is configured to be proximate a nerve to be stimulated during the surgical procedure.
16. The garment of claim 15 wherein the means for orienting comprises orifices in the fabric adapted to fit at least one body part of the patient.
17. The garment of claim 16 wherein the orifice is selected to fit at least one body part selected from the group of body parts consisting of: a wrist, a finger, a thumb, a forearm, an elbow, a shoulder, a bicep, a neck, a head, a face, a leg, a knee, a foot, an ankle, a knuckle; or a combination thereof.
18. The garment of claim 15 wherein the means for orienting comprises at least one marking on the top surface.
19. The garment of claim 16 wherein the means for orienting further comprises at least one marking on the top surface.
20. The garment of claim 1 wherein the garment comprises additional devices to facilitate a medical procedure.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 6, 2010
Publication Date: Jan 12, 2012
Applicant: ProNerve, LLC (Broomfield, CO)
Inventors: Jeff Thramann (Longmont, CO), James Higgins (Phoenix, AZ)
Application Number: 12/899,132
International Classification: A61B 5/053 (20060101); A61B 5/04 (20060101);