Method for laparoscopic nerve detection and mapping
US10045704B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 4, 2011 |
| Grant date | Aug 14, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2034/301
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A surgical method aids identification of nerves in a body to help prevent damage to the nerves during surgery to the body proximate the nerves. An electrode introduced to within a body cavity through a catheter is placed proximate a nerve within the body cavity by a laparoscopic or robotic device. An exploratory probe placed in the body cavity is selectively placed along a presumed pathway of the nerve to provide an electrical signal through the nerve to the electrode. An analyzer interfaced with the electrode analyzes the electrical signal received at the electrode to determine the proximity of the exploratory probe to the nerve, allowing mapping of the nerve pathway through the body cavity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.