Abstract:
Technologies are generally provided for identifying and marking the location of the laryngeal nerve prior to tissue dissection. A frame may include two multi-electrode stimulating probes, a slider with a guide movable between the two probes, and a marker probe including an anchor. The two probes supported on the frame may be inserted into tissue in a vicinity of the nerve, and a controller may sequentially stimulate the electrodes on each probe and measure electromyography (EMG) responses from each stimulated electrode. The controller may determine the nerve's location relative to the probes based on the measured EMG responses, where the location may include a lateral position between the probes and an estimated depth. The slider may be moved to the lateral position and the marker probe may be inserted through the slider to the determined depth. The anchor may be deployed next to the nerve to indicate the nerve location.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for remote thermographic assessment of tissue viability are disclosed. A system may include a controllable source of one or more thermal stimuli to be applied to a tissue, a measurement system to measure a heat response of the tissue before, during, and/or after the application of the thermal stimuli, and an electronic device that may control either one or both of the source of thermal stimuli and the measurement system. The electronic device may also receive tissue thermal response data from the measurement system, and may further calculate a measure of tissue viability. A method of determining tissue viability may include supplying a thermal stimulus to a tissue, receiving, by a measurement device, the thermal response of the tissue to the stimuli, and a comparison of the thermal response data to at least some viability threshold values. The results may be displayed in a graphical manner.
Abstract:
Technologies are generally provided for identifying and marking the location of the laryngeal nerve prior to tissue dissection. A frame may include two multi-electrode stimulating probes, a slider with a guide movable between the two probes, and a marker probe including an anchor. The two probes supported on the frame may be inserted into tissue in a vicinity of the nerve, and a controller may sequentially stimulate the electrodes on each probe and measure electromyography (EMG) responses from each stimulated electrode. The controller may determine the nerve's location relative to the probes based on the measured EMG responses, where the location may include a lateral position between the probes and an estimated depth. The slider may be moved to the lateral position and the marker probe may be inserted through the slider to the determined depth. The anchor may be deployed next to the nerve to indicate the nerve location.
Abstract:
Technologies are provided for an opto-mechancial device is provided for enabling surgeons to rapidly simulate proposed intestinal/colorectal anastomosis cut lines and assess their impact upon tissue perfusion prior to their implementation. The pre-selection process enables a surgeon to decide upon the locations of the anastomotic cut lines that are most likely to reduce ischemia, while preserving most of the intestinal tissue length. The opto-mechanical device may simulate a cut line by applying pressure to intestinal tissue and detecting a light pattern transmitted through the intestinal tissue before and after the applied pressure. A perfusion map may be generated to estimate perfusion quality around the circumference of the intestinal tissue at the site of a simulated cut line, and the perfusion map may be displayed as a two-dimensional graphic image of the proposed anastomosis site. Once the site of the best cut line is selected, the surgeon may activate a cutting blade to implement the cut.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for remote thermographic assessment of tissue viability are disclosed. A system may include a controllable source of one or more thermal stimuli to be applied to a tissue, a measurement system to measure a heat response of the tissue before, during, and/or after the application of the thermal stimuli, and an electronic device that may control either one or both of the source of thermal stimuli and the measurement system. The electronic device may also receive tissue thermal response data from the measurement system, and may further calculate a measure of tissue viability. A method of determining tissue viability may include supplying a thermal stimulus to a tissue, receiving, by a measurement device, the thermal response of the tissue to the stimuli, and a comparison of the thermal response data to at least some viability threshold values. The results may be displayed in a graphical manner.
Abstract:
Technologies are provided for an opto-mechanical device for enabling surgeons to rapidly simulate proposed intestinal/colorectal anastomosis cut lines and assess their impact upon tissue perfusion prior to their implementation. The pre-selection process enables a surgeon to decide upon the locations of the anastomotic cut lines that are most likely to reduce ischemia, while preserving most of the intestinal tissue length. The opto-mechanical device may simulate a cut line by applying pressure to intestinal tissue and detecting a light pattern transmitted through the intestinal tissue before and after the applied pressure. A perfusion map may be generated to estimate perfusion quality around the circumference of the intestinal tissue at the site of a simulated cut line, and the perfusion map may be displayed as a two-dimensional graphic image of the proposed anastomosis site. Once the site of the best cut line is selected, the surgeon may activate a cutting blade to implement the cut.