BACKGROUND

Evoked potential (EP) monitoring assists a surgeon in locating nerves within an obscured surgical field, as well as preserving and assessing nerve function in real-time during surgery. To this end, evoked potential monitoring is commonly employed to capture responses resulting from stimulation of the tissue of interest (e.g., direct nerve, muscle, etc.). Evaluating the aforementioned EP responses allows for immediate assessment of the integrity of the electrical signal path through the tissue of interest. Electrical stimulation can cause excitement of the tissue. During electrical stimulation, a surgical probe applies a stimulus signal near the area where the subject tissue may be located. If the stimulation probe contacts or is reasonably near the tissue, the applied stimulus signal is transmitted to the tissue evoking a response. Excitation of the tissue generates an electrical impulse that is sensed by the recording electrodes (or other sensing device). The recording electrode(s) signal the sensed electrical impulse information to the surgeon for interpretation in the context of determining (EP) activity. For example, the EP activity can be displayed on a monitor and/or presented audibly.

Evoked potential monitoring is useful for a multitude of different surgical procedures or evaluations that involve or relate to nerve conduction. Evaluation of these nerves can assist in preservation of the intended electrophysical function during procedures where there exists a high probability of damage to these tissues. For example, various head and neck surgical procedures (e.g., parotidectomy and thyroidectomy) require locating and identifying cranial and peripheral motor nerves. In some instances, it is desirable to utilize a surgical robot to assist the surgeon in performing a surgical procedure. Surgical robots can perform procedures laparoscopically in a manner that is minimally invasive to the patient. Due to various constraints involved in a minimally invasive setting, conventional stimulating probes are not equipped to be used in such an environment.

SUMMARY

A stimulation probe includes a proximal end connector and a flexible wire coupled to the end connector. A handle is coupled to the wire and a needle extends from the handle and terminates at a conductive tip.

