US4155353A — Electrode and method for laryngeal electromyograp…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 163 words

An electrode for laryngeal electromyography comprising: (a) an electrical insulator having a base, a top and a side; (b) a pair of rigid electrical conductors, each having a first end and a second end; said rigid conductors each having the first end thereof mounted in said insulator base and projecting outwardly therefrom in a mutually spaced apart relation, and including a cutting edge on the second end thereof for embedding the rigid conductors into a vocalis muscle of a patient; (c) a pair of flexible electrical conductors, each having a first end thereof connected with a different one of said rigid conductors, and including a second end thereof adapted for connection to a signal monitor; and (d) a tab connected with the insulator having a planar portion anatomically proportioned for insertion into a laryngeal ventricle portion of the patient and projecting outwardly of the insulator at an angle to said rigid conductors for preventing inadvertent removal of the electrode from the vocalis muscle.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 163 words

An electrode for laryngeal electromyography comprising: (a) an electrical insulator having a base, a top and a side; (b) a pair of rigid electrical conductors, each having a first end and a second end; said rigid conductors each having the first end thereof mounted in said insulator base and projecting outwardly therefrom in a mutually spaced apart relation, and including a cutting edge on the second end thereof for embedding the rigid conductors into a vocalis muscle of a patient; (c) a pair of flexible electrical conductors, each having a first end thereof connected with a different one of said rigid conductors, and including a second end thereof adapted for connection to a signal monitor; and (d) a tab connected with the insulator having a planar portion anatomically proportioned for insertion into a laryngeal ventricle portion of the patient and projecting outwardly of the insulator at an angle to said rigid conductors for preventing inadvertent removal of the electrode from the vocalis muscle.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

An electrode as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said insulator has a frustro-conical shape to facilitate insertion of said electrode.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

An electrode as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said rigid conductors depend substantially normally from said insulator base in a mutually parallel relation.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

An electrode as set forth in claim 3 wherein: (a) said tab has flat opposed surfaces, and a triangular shape defined by tab side edges intersecting at an apex.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 47 words

An electrode as set forth in claim 4 wherein: (a) said insulator base is substantially coplanar with a lower one of said tab opposed surfaces; and (b) said tab apex lies in a plane substantially perpendicular with a plane passing centrally through each of said rigid conductors.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

An electrode as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said first end of each of the flexible conductors is mounted in the insulator at a point therein disposed substantially opposite said tab.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

An electrode as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said tab is oriented substantially perpendicular to said rigid conductors.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

An electrode as set forth in claim 1 wherein: (a) said tab has flat opposed surfaces, and a triangular shape defined by tab side edges intersecting at an apex.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

An electrode as set forth in claim 8 wherein: (a) said insulator base is substantially coplanar with a lower one of said tab opposed surfaces.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

An electrode as set forth in claim 9 wherein said rigid conductors each extend rectilinearly from the insulator.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

An electrode as set forth in claim 8 wherein: (a) said tab apex lies in a plane substantially perpendicular with a plane passing centrally through each of said rigid conductors.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 66 words

An electrode as set forth in claim 11 wherein: (a) said cutting edge on each of said rigid conductors comprises an impaling surface inclined downwardly from an outer surface of each rigid conductor to an inner surface thereof; said impaling surfaces facing mutually outwardly in a diametrically opposed relation, and each of said impaling surfaces being substantially perpendicular with said plane passing through said rigid conductors.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 172 words

A method for locating a recurrent laryngeal nerve in a surgery patient comprising the steps of: (a) providing a laryngeal electrode having a pair of rigid electrical conductors mounted in an insulator, a pair of flexible conductors connected with the rigid conductors, and a tab projecting outwardly of the insulator; (b) guiding said electrode through a pharynx portion of said patient into a larynx portion thereof; (c) embedding a free end portion of each of said rigid conductors into a vocalis muscle portion of said larynx, and inserting the electrode tab into a laryngeal ventricle portion of said larynx to prevent inadvertent removal of the electrode from the vocalis muscle; (d) connecting each of the flexible conductors with a monitor for sensing impulses in said vocalis muscle; (e) providing a probe for exciting internal tissue in an area surrounding the laryngeal nerve and applying said probe thereto, whereby contact between the probe and the recurrent laryngeal nerve excites said vocalis muscle and said monitor thereby indicating the exact location of said nerve.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 172 words

A method for locating a recurrent laryngeal nerve in a surgery patient comprising the steps of: (a) providing a laryngeal electrode having a pair of rigid electrical conductors mounted in an insulator, a pair of flexible conductors connected with the rigid conductors, and a tab projecting outwardly of the insulator; (b) guiding said electrode through a pharynx portion of said patient into a larynx portion thereof; (c) embedding a free end portion of each of said rigid conductors into a vocalis muscle portion of said larynx, and inserting the electrode tab into a laryngeal ventricle portion of said larynx to prevent inadvertent removal of the electrode from the vocalis muscle; (d) connecting each of the flexible conductors with a monitor for sensing impulses in said vocalis muscle; (e) providing a probe for exciting internal tissue in an area surrounding the laryngeal nerve and applying said probe thereto, whereby contact between the probe and the recurrent laryngeal nerve excites said vocalis muscle and said monitor thereby indicating the exact location of said nerve.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein: (a) said electrode is detachably connected to an end of a tubular insertion tool to facilitate guiding and positioning said electrode.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein: (a) said monitor provides an audible alarm whereby the location of said nerve is determined while maintaining continuous sight observation of said area of surgery.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-05-21	1982-11-20	1983-05-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-05-21	1986-11-20	1987-05-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-05-21	1990-11-20	1991-05-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrode and method for laryngeal electromyography

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