An Electric Stimulator for Intraoperative Verification and Monitoring of the State of the Facial Nerve and the Muscles of Expression

Abstract

An electric stimulator for pre-operative electrical diagnosis and intraoperative verification of nerves and muscles in the maxillofacial area is described. A block diagram of the apparatus is presented and the parameters of the output impulses and stimulation programs used at the pre-operative and intraoperative stages are described. Use of the instrument in neurosurgical operations increases the effectiveness of assessments of the physiological state of nerves and decreases the risk of traumatization. Results were obtained without using neuromonitoring instrumentation based on recording electrical activity in nerves and muscles.