US 11,980,465 B2
System and method for omni-directional bipolar stimulation of nerve tissue of a patient via a bipolar stimulation probe
Kevin L. McFarlin, St. Johns, FL (US); Bryan L. Courtney, Jacksonville, FL (US); and David C. Hacker, Jacksonville, FL (US)
Assigned to Medtronic Xomed, Inc., Jacksonville, FL (US)
Filed by Medtronic Xomed, Inc., Jacksonville, FL (US)
Filed on Apr. 3, 2015, as Appl. No. 14/678,452.
Prior Publication US 2016/0287112 A1, Oct. 6, 2016
Int. Cl. A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/24 (2021.01); A61N 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/24 (2021.01) [A61B 5/0048 (2013.01); A61B 5/4041 (2013.01); A61N 1/0456 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wireless handheld bipolar stimulation probe comprising:
a housing portion having a grip configured to be held by a user during use of the wireless handheld bipolar stimulation probe;
an elongated member extending from the housing portion to a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode is spaced apart from the second electrode on the elongated member;
housed in the housing portion;
(1) a control module configured to stimulate a nerve tissue of a patient based on recalled parameters by generating (i) a first output signal indicative of a first pulse to be output from the first electrode, and (ii) a second output signal indicative of a second pulse to be output from the second electrode, wherein both of the first pulse and the second pulse is monophasic such that the first pulse and second pulse are selected one of either positive or negative;
(2) a first switch electrically connected to the first electrode and the control module; and
(3) a second switch electrically connected to the second electrode and the control module; and
(4) a physical layer module configured to wirelessly communicate with a nerve integrity monitoring device;
wherein the control module generates a switch control signal to the first and second switches to send from the bipolar stimulation probe (i) the first pulse on the first electrode based on the first output signal and (ii) the second pulse on the second electrode based on the second output signal;
wherein the first electrode and the second electrode alternate between operation as a cathode and an anode by operation of the first switch or the second switch to each operate as both the cathode and the anode such that both of the provided first pulse and second pulse are monophasic when the first pulse and the second pulse are sent from the first electrode and the second electrode;
wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to be positioned adjacent the nerve tissue by the user holding and positioning the wireless handheld bipolar stimulation probe during use such that the first pulse is generated based on the first output signal and the second pulse is generated based on the second output signal and the switch control signal changes states of at least one of the first switch or the second switch in the bipolar stimulation module such that the first pulse and the second pulse are provided in opposite directions along the nerve tissue;
wherein the nerve integrity monitoring device is configured to analyze the first pulse and the second pulse provided in opposite directions along the nerve tissue in the patient.