The present invention relates to the field of medical devices, specifically to an electrophysiological test method for an auditory brainstem implant (ABI), and a recording electrode used therein.
An ABI is favorable for a patient who is not suitable for a cochlear implantation due to undeveloped cochlea, cochlear ossification, lack of an auditory nerve, and the like. The ABI, which has not been widely used domestically, has a broad application prospect. Good intraoperative monitoring guarantees the effect of postoperative auditory reconstruction.
An ABI device includes two parts: an extracorporeal apparatus and an intracorporeal apparatus. The extracorporeal apparatus includes an electroacoustic transducer, a voice processor, and a connecting wire. The intracorporeal apparatus includes a receiver, an electrode wire, and an electrode array (namely, an auditory brainstem electrode array). A working principle of the ABI is, by placing the electrode array on a surface of a cochlear nucleus in a recess of a fourth ventricle, to directly stimulate a cochlear nucleus complex across a cochlea and an auditory nerve, to produce speech perception and recognition. An ABI implantation surgery is a craniotomy. During the surgery, an implantation area is fully exposed, to well locate the cochlear nucleus. The cochlear nucleus is located in a brainstem and is surrounded by many other nerve nuclei, including a facial nerve nucleus, a trigeminal nerve nucleus, a glossopharyngeal nerve nucleus, etc. Therefore, an accurate implantation of the electrode array is crucial. Any incorrect stimulation to the surrounding structure can result in serious consequences.
At present, electrically-evoked auditory brainstem responses (eABR) is conventionally used for detection after the ABI implantation. The eABR is a far-field potential recording. The electrode array of the ABI emits electrical stimulations. A recording electrode is placed at a top of a head or a mastoid, a reference electrode is placed at two earlobes or a mastoid, a forehead electrode is grounded, and a preamplifier is supposed to be placed close to a subject. A typical response of the eABR occurs within 10 milliseconds after a pulse stimulation, and usually, thousands of average scans are required to obtain a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio. Since the ABI crosses the cochlea and auditory nerve, and accordingly the electrode array directly stimulates the cochlear nucleus, the recording of only partial waves including wave III (cochlear nucleus), wave IV (olive nucleus), and wave V (lateral lemniscus nucleus) can be obtained, which appears 1 to 2 milliseconds (ms) earlier than the recording in a case of using a cochlear implant.
It is important to monitor auditory responses when the electrode array is implanted, which not only indicates a position of the electrode array, but also indicates auditory effect after the implantation. One or more response waves help to confirm that the electrode is implanted correctly, but a process of obtaining eABR is relatively cumbersome. Typically, an external system used for recording is provided and must then be connected/synchronized with a stimulation system. Moreover, various recording electrodes need to be placed on a patient, positions of which may be easily affected by the patient's movement.
The present invention provides an automated electrophysiological test method for an ABI, including the following steps: step 1, performing, by a stimulation generator, electrical stimulations on a plurality of ABI electrodes; step 2, sequentially and correspondingly generating, by each of the ABI electrodes, an electrical stimulation signal to stimulate a central auditory system, to generate eABR, and sequentially recording, by a recording electrode in a body of a patient, the generated eABR; and step 3, receiving, by a signal receiving apparatus that is respectively connected to a signal acquisition apparatus and a signal processing apparatus, the eABR recorded by the recording electrode and acquired by the signal acquisition apparatus, and determining, by the signal processing apparatus, whether an eABR target waveform appears at a corresponding ABI electrode through signal superimposition and automatic waveform recognition, to obtain response results of all of the ABI electrodes and display the response results in a three-dimensional image manner.
The present invention further provides an electrophysiological test method for an auditory brainstem implant based on cochlear nucleus action potentials (CNAP), including the following steps: S1, implanting an ABI electrode array; S2, using any one of to-be-tested ABI electrodes on the ABI electrode array as a stimulating electrode to emit an electrical stimulation; S3, using, according to different simulation modes, any other one of the ABI electrodes on the ABI electrode array as a recording electrode of the stimulating electrode, the recording electrode being configured to receive an electrical stimulation signal transmitted by the stimulating electrode and record electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potentials; S4, determining whether an electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potential target waveform is obtained from a recording result, if the electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potential target waveform is obtained in a recorded result, the stimulating electrode being correctly placed, and if the electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potential target waveform is not obtained, the stimulating electrode being incorrectly placed, performing fine-tuning on a position of the stimulating electrode, and performing steps S2 to S4 after the fine-tuning, until the target waveform is obtained from the recording result; and S5, determining whether all of the to-be-tested ABI electrodes on the ABI electrode array have been tested: if all of the to-be-tested ABI electrodes on the ABI electrode array have been tested, ending an electrophysiological test process; and if not all of the to-be-tested ABI electrodes on the ABI electrode array have been tested, performing step S2, and testing a next one of the to-be-tested ABI electrodes until all of the to-be-tested ABI electrodes have been tested.
The present invention further provides a non-invasive nerve clamp recording electrode, including: a misaligned and complementary clip, including two clip pieces, front ends of the two clip pieces being misalignedly opened to form an opening at a head of the clip, or the two clip pieces being complementarily closed to form a complete closed loop structure; a plurality of electrodes exposedly arranged at an inner side of the closed loop structure, electrically connected to an external signal generator and/or a signal receiver through a wire; two pressing sections, respectively extending outward from a tail of the clip, and providing a first force for making the clip open by transmitting an external pressing force applied to the two pressing sections; a first elastic body, arranged at rear ends of the clip pieces that are at the tail of the clip and at the pressing sections, an elastic force of the first elastic body being used as a second force for making the clip close; and a second elastic body, arranged at the tail of the clip, two ends of the second elastic body respectively abutting against the two clip pieces, and an elastic force of the second elastic body being used as a third force for making the clip open.
The present invention further provides a cochlear nucleus recording electrode, including: an electrode array, including a body and a plurality of first test electrodes distributed on the same surface of the body; a wire, passing through the body, being connected to the first test electrodes correspondingly, and extending outside the body from a tail of the electrode array to receive an electrical stimulation signal; and a first clampable member, arranged on the wire extending from the tail of the electrode array. Optionally, the cochlear nucleus recording electrode further includes one or more movable electrodes. Each of the movable electrodes is provided with a lead to transmit an electrical stimulation signal, an end of the lead is connected to a second test electrode, and the other end of the lead is arranged at the wire extending from the tail of the electrode array. The lead of each of the movable electrodes is provided with a second clampable member.
To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more comprehensible, the following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.
To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of the present invention rather than all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the disclosed embodiments without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
The present invention provides an automated electrophysiological test method for an ABI. As shown in
S1. Before a surgery, first an electrode group for detecting eABR is placed at a patient's head by an audiologist, the electrode group including a reference electrode placed at a top of the head (a preferred position), a ground electrode placed on a chest skin (a preferred position), and one or more recording electrodes placed in front of both ears (preferred positions). The recording electrode is not limited to being placed at the top of the patient's head, but may also be placed at other parts of the head or at a forehead. Besides, positions of the recording electrodes and the reference electrode may be changed according to an implanter's condition.
S2. During the surgery, a surgery area is exposed by a surgeon, and an eABR detecting is started after auditory brainstem electrodes (ABI electrodes) have been implanted.
Step S2 further includes the following operations:
S21. First, a stimulation generator performs an electrical stimulation on each connected ABI electrode.
In step S21, a first computer 1 (PC1) is electrically connected to the stimulation generator, to control the stimulation generator. The stimulation generator receives a stimulation control signal from the PC1 and transmits an electrical stimulation signal to an ABI electrode.
Generally, there are 12 to 22 ABI electrodes that have been implanted. Each electrical stimulation is only used to stimulate one ABI electrode. An electrical stimulation process of each ABI electrode is performed sequentially until the electrical stimulation processes of all ABI electrodes have been completed. Besides, in an embodiment, a quantity of to-be-tested ABI electrodes is determined by an expert system (for example, a surgeon).
S22. Each ABI electrode correspondingly receives an electrical stimulation signal, and stimulates a central auditory system to generate local potential, so as to obtain eABR.
In step S22, the eABR is one kind of an auditory evoked potential. The eABR can be recorded by the recording electrode placed on the patient. That is, the to-be-tested ABI electrodes are tested sequentially, and the same recording electrode is responsible for all the recording.
S23. Since the eABR have a low signal-to-noise ratio, a signal receiving apparatus is connected to a signal acquisition apparatus, to receive the eABR generated by the central auditory system in the patient's head, which are recorded by the recording electrode and acquired by the signal acquisition apparatus. The signal receiving apparatus is connected to the second computer 2 (PC2, a computer used to match and record eABR waveforms). The PC2 performs filtering, superposition, and other processing (for example, 100 to 1000 times) on the eABR, to form a relatively stable and characteristic target eABR waveform. The “stable” refers to that the eABR waveform after the superimposition has a stable baseline, and basically maintains a consistent form, latency, and amplitude. The “characteristic” refers to that the eABR wave after the superimposition always exists, with a wave crest becoming larger as a stimulus amount is increased and the wave crest becoming smaller as the stimulus amount is decreased. The signal acquisition apparatus is connected to the recording electrode.
In step S23, the eABR waveform is automatically recognized by a software recognition algorithm module in the second computer 2. A starting point of the eABR waveform generally appears within 1 ms, and an entire eABR waveform time limit is approximately within 3 ms, so the software recognition algorithm module can automatically recognize the waveform within the eABR waveform time limit. The software recognition algorithm module also performs a differential calculation to calculate a slope of data points on the eABR waveform, so as to find a starting point, a wave crest, and a wave trough of the waveform, thereby locating and recognizing the entire eABR waveform, and further automatically calculating a latency, amplitude, time limit of the eABR waveform.
S23. In a case that the PC 1 controls the stimulation generator to apply a minimum amount of an electrical stimulation to a certain ABI electrode, if the PC 2 recognizes the stable and characteristic target eABR waveform, the ABI electrode is determined to have a good response; if the PC 2 fails to recognize the eABR waveform, the PC 1 automatically increases the amount of the electrical stimulation, steps S21 to S23 are repeated until the stable and characteristic eABR waveform appears, and then the ABI electrode is considered to have a normal response; and if the amount of the electrical stimulation reaches a maximum amount, but there is still no target eABR waveform that can be recognized by the PC 2, the ABI electrode is considered to have no response.
In step S23, the amount of the electrical stimulation (such as the minimum amount of the electrical stimulation, the amount of an electrical stimulation increased each time, and the maximum amount of the electrical stimulation) is determined by an expert system (such as an audiologist).
S24. Perform electrical stimulations on all required ABI electrodes sequentially according to the above steps S21 to S23, and perform automatic recognition and determination. ABI electrodes with good responses or normal responses or no response are obtained by the PC 2 in an automatic determination manner.
S25. The PC 2 may also automatically simulate and draw a figure of positions of the ABI electrodes (electrode array position information in a 3D visualization structure) based on information about the obtained eABR and the eABR waveform, and display the figure on an interface of the PC 2, to facilitate subsequent use in a process of adjusting the positions of the ABI electrodes by a surgeon.
S26. A surgeon may also perform an adjustment on the position of the ABI electrode with a normal response or no response according to result information imaged by the PC 2 (the electrode array position information in the 3D visualization structure), and after the adjustment, the above steps S21 to S23 are repeated until a most suitable position of the ABI electrode has been found, to obtain a good position of the entire electrode array.
In an embodiment, the good position of the entire electrode array is determined by an expert system (for example, a surgeon).
Besides, the PC 1 connected to the stimulation generator, and the PC 2 used to match and record eABR waveforms in the present invention may be implemented by one computer, that is, the stimulation generator and the signal receiving apparatus are both connected to the computer.
In addition, the forgoing automated electrophysiological test method consistent with the present invention is also applicable to a cochlear implant, which is not detailed herein.
The automated electrophysiological test method for an ABI consistent with the present invention uses the eABR waveform automatic determination manner, and automatically records relevant stimulation information and matched eABR waveforms, automatically simulates and draws an electrode position figure (electrode array position information in a 3D visualization structure), which can replace the conventional manual recording approach. The present test method can effectively improve the efficiency of an audiologist performing electrode testing during a surgery, thereby saving labor. In addition, according to the displayed electrode array position information in the 3D visualization structure, the efficiency of a surgeon adjusting the electrode array position can be improved, which shortens surgical time, reduces surgical risk, and improves patient prognosis. Good intraoperative detection guarantees the effect of postoperative auditory reconstruction; thus the method of the present invention has a broad application prospect.
The present invention further provides an electrophysiological test method for an ABI based on electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potentials (CNAP). As shown in
S1′. During a surgery, exposing, by a surgeon, a surgery area, and implanting an auditory brainstem implant (ABI).
In step S1′, the ABI includes an ABI electrode array (also called an electrode array), a reference electrode, and a ground electrode, used for subsequent detecting of the electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potentials. The reference electrode is placed at a top of a head (a preferred position), and the ground electrode is placed on a chest skin (a preferred position). During the surgery, the ABI electrode array is placed on a surface of a cochlear nucleus in a recess of the fourth ventricle according to an anatomy, and subsequently the electrophysiological test method is used to check whether the ABI electrode array is correctly placed.
As shown in
S2′. Emitting an electrical stimulation by using a certain ABI electrode (a certain to-be-tested ABI electrode) on the ABI electrode array as a stimulating electrode.
S3′. Using any adjacent electrode of the stimulating electrode as a recording electrode, to receive an electrical stimulation signal transmitted by the stimulating electrode, to record cochlear nucleus action potentials.
In step S3′, the recording electrode is connected to a signal acquisition apparatus, for transmitting a cochlear nucleus action potential signal recorded by the recording electrode to a signal processing apparatus.
S4′. Determining whether an electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potential target waveform is obtained from a recording result in step S3′: if the electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potential target waveform is obtained, it indicates that the stimulating electrode is correctly placed; if electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potential target waveform is not obtained, it indicates that the stimulating electrode is incorrectly placed, and the position of the stimulating electrode needs to be fine-tuned. The electrophysiology test is performed again after the fine-tuning, that is, steps S2′ to S4′ are repeated until the target positive and negative waveform is generated, which indicates that the stimulating electrode is correctly placed.
In step S4′, the signal processing apparatus receives the cochlear nucleus action potential signal, and determines whether the electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potential target waveform, namely the relatively stable and characteristic electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potential waveform, appears at the corresponding stimulating electrode through signal superimposition and automatic waveform recognition. The target waveform refers to a waveform having an obvious crest value within a certain time range, as shown in
S5′. Determining whether all the to-be-tested ABI electrodes on the ABI electrode array have been tested, if all the to-be-tested ABI electrodes on the ABI electrode array have been tested, ending an electrophysiological test process; and if not, performing step S2′, and continuing a test process of a next ABI electrode until the electrophysiological test process of all the ABI electrodes have been completed.
Generally, there are 12 to 22 electrodes in the implanted ABI electrode array. Referring to the above steps S2′ to S4′, each ABI electrode is used as the stimulating electrode to emit an electrical stimulation, and its adjacent electrode serves as the recording electrode to record action potentials, so as to check whether each ABI electrode is correctly placed, until the electrode stimulation processes of all the ABI electrodes have been completed.
For example, a quantity of the to-be-tested ABI electrodes is determined by an expert system (such as a surgeon).
An electrode that is not adjacent to the stimulating electrode of the present invention may be used as the recording electrode. In a preferred embodiment, the recording electrode is adjacent to the stimulating electrode, which provides a best effect without additional connection to other apparatus. Therefore, different from the conventional eABR test method in which an electrode needs to be subcutaneously placed for a patient, the method of the present invention simplifies preoperative preparation, thereby providing an easier application.
Compared with the related art, the electrophysiological test method of the present invention has the following beneficial effects: (1) the present invention uses the test method in which the electrically-evoked cochlear nucleus action potentials (CNAP) replace the conventional eABR, and has no need to subcutaneously place a recording electrode for a patient, which simplifies preoperative preparation and has advantages of a high signal-to-noise ratio, a fast response speed, a short recording time, and a large anti-interference ability, thereby effectively improving efficiency of intraoperative electrode test; (2) the CNAP consistent with the present invention has advantages as a near-field technology, by using which a signal with a larger amplitude can be observed, and fewer average scans is needed to obtain a satisfactory waveform; and (3) the present invention is also suitable for use in auditory brainstem implantation surgery, which has an easier application.
The electrophysiological test method for an ABI based on CNAP consistent with the present invention has a high signal-to-noise ratio, a fast response speed, a greatly shortened recording time, and a strong anti-interference ability, thus can be used as a standard test method for determining whether an electrode array is correctly placed at a cochlear nucleus. The present invention can also be used to assist post-operative programming of an implantable auditory apparatus. The present invention not only can complete auditory electrophysiological test after an auditory brainstem implant is implanted, but also is more in line with surgical habits, which can shorten surgery time, reduce surgery risk, and improve patient prognosis. The CNAP has advantages as a near-field technology, by using which a signal with a larger amplitude can be observed, and fewer average scans is needed to obtain a satisfactory waveform.
The present invention provides a non-invasive nerve clamp recording electrode. Referring to
At a head of the clip, in a case that front ends of the two clip pieces 10 are misalignedly opened to a set angle (or beyond the set angle), the clip can clamp a nerve to be monitored. The closed loop structure formed by the two clip pieces 10 embraces the clamped nerve. Unless the two clip pieces 10 are misalignedly opened again to the set angle or beyond the set angle, it is difficult for the nerve to escape from the closed loop structure, which realizes a reliable clamping and fixing.
Several electrodes 40 are exposedly arranged on an inner side of the closed loop structure (
The electrodes 40 are electrically connected to an external signal generator and/or a signal receiver through a wire 30. For example, the electrodes 40 may be embedded in or attached to inner sides of the clip pieces 10, so that at least parts of the electrodes 40 are exposed to the inner sides of the clip pieces 10. The wire 30 is firmly connected to the clip pieces 10. For example, the wire 30 may pass through the clip pieces 10, and may also be embedded in or attached to the inner sides or outer sides of the clip pieces 10 (parts where the wire 30 is fixed to the clip pieces 10 and connected to the electrodes 40 are omitted in
The entire closed loop structure may include one or more electrodes 40. In a case that there are a plurality of electrodes 40, the electrodes 40 may be only arranged on one of the clip pieces 10, or arranged on two clip pieces 10, respectively. The electrodes 40 may be symmetrically or asymmetrically distributed. The present invention does not limit the shape and a quantity of the electrodes 40, nor their positions on the clip pieces 10 or the fixing manner.
Rear ends of the two clip pieces 10 are connected or integrated at a tail of the clip. The tail of the clip further extends outward, and is provided with two pressing sections. By relatively pressing the two pressing sections, the front ends of the two clip pieces 10 can be misalignedly opened.
The softness and shape of the entire recording electrode also decide the open/close state of the clip to a certain extent. An O-shaped opening with a slit (
Preferably, lengths of the two pressing sections are different. The wire 30 of the electrodes 40 is tightly connected to a first pressing section 21 that is relatively long. For example, the wire 30 may pass through the first pressing section 21 or be embedded in a surface of the first pressing section 21. This can avoid a direct pressing on the wire 30, thereby providing a certain protective effect on the wire 30. A second pressing section 22 is relatively short, which can prevent it from blocking a surgical field of vision during an actual application, thereby not affecting surgical operations.
A first elastic body 51 is provided. The first elastic body 51 may be a torsion spring (
A second elastic body 52 is provided. The second elastic body 52 may be a coil spring 52′ (
Preferably, the first elastic body 51 and the second elastic body 52 are arranged inside the clip (indicated by dashed lines in
The wire 30 of the electrodes 40 is not directly related to the second elastic body 52. Through an adjustment of a design structure and a limited number of tests, the first elastic body 51, the second elastic body 52, and a gravity force of the clip itself may realize:
1) In a case that the pressing sections are pressed to a certain extent, the clip is opened to a set angle that is just for a nerve to enter and exit: in this case, an opening angle of the clip is consistent with a state in which the second elastic body 52 is not deformed, accordingly the elastic force of the second elastic body 52 does not work; at the same time, the first elastic body 51 has not been deformed or an elastic force generated by its deformation is insufficient to actually make the clip close. In other words, there exists a clip opening angle range (namely, the set angle) where the elastic forces of the two elastic bodies do not work, allowing the nerve to enter and exit.
A principle of the above situation is briefly described as follows: before the pressing reaches a certain extent, the clip continues to open as the pressing force increases, and the second elastic body 52 gradually recovers from a deformed state when the clip is closed to a non-deformed state, with its elastic force being gradually reduced. When the clip is opened to the set angle, the clip is out of a space range where the second elastic body 52 works, and the second elastic body 52 is not deformed; in this case, even if the pressing force is removed, the second elastic body 52 does not exert a force on the clip pieces 10. In the above pressing process, the first elastic body 51 has not been deformed or the elastic force generated by its deformation is insufficient to actually close the clip; and if the pressing is removed after the set angle is exceeded, since the first elastic body 51 is sufficiently deformed, its elastic force will actually make the clip close.
The above situation, without considering the influence of the gravity of the clip itself, is applicable to scenarios where the clip is placed horizontally on an object such as a table and is supported by the object; or scenarios where the clip is hold by a user and pressed by the user.
2) Without considering the pressing force, in a case that the clip is in a vertical position, the gravity of the clip itself and the elastic force of the second elastic body 52 work together to make the two clip pieces 10 close (in this case, the first elastic body 51 is not deformed and no force is generated). The vertical position may be defined by an opening direction of the clip that is vertically downward. In this example where the clip is arranged vertically, the two pressing sections are upward (but in other examples, the vertical position of the clip may not be defined by the opening direction, and the pressing sections may be oriented in other directions, which are not limited by the present invention).
3) Without considering the pressing force, in a case that the clip is changed from a vertical position to a position deviated from the vertical position (preferably to a horizontal position), the effect of the gravity is weakened (or the effect of the gravity of the clip itself disappears in the horizontal position), and the second elastic body 52 exhibits an obvious effect (the first elastic body 51 at this time is still not deformed, and no force is generated). In this case, by pulling the wire 30 of the electrodes 40 to drive the clip pieces 10 to move, the clip can be opened to the set angle to release the nerve with the assistance of the second elastic body 52.
According to the non-invasive nerve clamp recording electrode of the present invention, a misaligned and complementary clip structure is formed at the head, to clamp a specific nerve for fixing. Besides, the second elastic body 52 is arranged to provide a guarantee mechanism to avoid clamping too tightly. The second elastic body 52 is cooperated with the first elastic body 51 and the gravity of the clip itself, to enable the clip to maintain a small clamping force as a whole. The clip can be opened to the set angle by pulling the wire 30 of the electrodes 40, so that the nerve can be released without damage. A single electrode 40 or a plurality of electrodes 40 may be provided on the inner side of the clip, to realize various application modes. The present invention is easy to fix, simple to operate, and accurate in recording, which is suitable for neurological monitoring during an intracranial surgery.
The present invention also provides a cochlear nucleus recording electrode for test during an ABI surgery. An auditory brainstem implant apparatus is implanted at a cochlear nucleus, to generate hearing by electrically stimulating the cochlear nucleus. An implantation part of the auditory brainstem implant apparatus includes the cochlear nucleus recording electrode.
As shown in
The first clampable member 300 is arranged circumferentially around the wire 200, which is equivalent to that the wire 200 extends radially outward and thereby being thickened. A material of the first clampable member 300 is supposed to be soft enough to not cause any damage to human tissues around an implantation site. Further, a fillet may be provided at a junction between different surfaces of the first clampable member 300 for a smooth transition, so as to avoid sharp parts. Besides, the first clampable member 300 needs to be made of a material with a sufficient strength, to maintain its inherent shape or only allow a small amount of deformation. This is beneficial for a surgical tool to clamp the first clampable member 300, and drive the electrode array 100 at the front of the wire 200 to move to the to-be-monitored cochlear nucleus. The shape, size, and material of the first clampable member 300 may be accordingly adjusted, to satisfy the above requirements as much as possible.
Preferably, the first clampable member 300 has a disc shape, through which the wire 200 passes (
The body of the electrode array 100 on which the plurality of first test electrodes 11 are fixed is usually transparent, so that tissues of human body can be observed through the body during a surgery. A side where the first test electrodes 11 are exposedly arranged is called a front side of the electrode array 100, which usually needs to be attached to a monitored part. In order to quickly distinguish the front and back sides of the electrode array 100 during a surgery, in a preferred example as shown in
As technologies advance, the electrode array 100 can be made very small to adapt for a small operating space at a cochlear nucleus. The volume of the electrode array 100 can be further reduced by appropriately reducing the quantity of the first test electrodes 11 on the body. For example, one to four first test electrodes 11 are provided on the body of the electrode array 100.
As shown in
For example, the first clampable member 300 may be provided with a channel through which the lead can pass, so that an initial lead-out angle for the movable electrode 400 is set. A second clampable member 41 may be further provided on the lead of the movable electrode 400, to facilitate intraoperative operations.
The lead of the movable electrode 400 may be one of wires, which merges with other wires 200 extending from the tail of the electrode array 100. Or, the movable electrode 400 may be combined with the electrode array 100 as required. For example, an electrical connector is provided at the first clampable member 300, which is internally connected to one of wires 200, and externally connected to an electrical connector fitted at the other end of the lead, so that the movable electrode 400 can be plugged and unplugged at any time.
The wire 200 extending from the tail of the electrode array 100 may receive the electrical stimulation signal from the stimulation apparatus in a wired or wireless manner, and then transmit the electrical stimulation signal to the first test electrodes 11 on the electrode array 100 (and the second test electrode on the movable electrode 400). The end of the wire 200 is directly connected to the stimulation apparatus; or, the end of the wire 200 is connected to a signal receiving unit, which cooperates with a signal transmitting unit of the stimulation apparatus to receive the electrical stimulation signal.
In accordance with the cochlear nucleus recording electrode provided in the present invention, the overall volume of the electrode array 100 is small; the movable electrode 400 is additionally provided; the body of the electrode array 100 uses different color identifications to assist in distinguishing the electrode orientation; and the first clampable member 300 is provided for easy clamping. The present invention can reduce damage to an implantation site, and is applicable in scenarios such as auditory brainstem implantation surgery and nerve monitoring with simultaneous monitoring of eABR, eCAP and the like, thus having a wide range of applications.
Although the content of the present invention has been described in detail through the above exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the above description should not be considered as a limitation on the present invention. For a person skilled in the art, various modifications and replacements to the present invention will be apparent after reading the above content. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be subject to the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2019105112487 | Jun 2019 | CN | national |
2019211396301 | Jul 2019 | CN | national |
2019106772696 | Jul 2019 | CN | national |
2019211909232 | Jul 2019 | CN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CN2020/095774 | 6/12/2020 | WO | 00 |