Device and method for monitoring evoked potentials and electroencephalograms

[54] DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING EVOKED POTENTIALS AND ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAMS

[76] Inventor: James R. Doty, 614 Concerto La., Silver Spring, Md. 20901

[21] Appl. No.: 802,371

[22] Filed: Not. 27,1985

Related UJS. Application Data

[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 702,251, Feb. 15, 1985, abandoned.

[51] Int. CI.' A61B5/04

[52] UJS. CI 128/642; 128/731

[58] Field of Search 128/639-643,

128/131-732, 784-785, 790-791, 644

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

Re. 28,990 10/1976 Hon et al 128/642

3,737,579 6/1973 Bolduc 128/785

3,750,650 8/1973 Ruttgers 128/642

3,807,387 4/1974 MacNichol, Jr 128/731

3,826,244 7/1974 Salcman et al 128/642

3,964,470 6/1976 Trombley 128/642

4,010,758 3/1977 Rockland et al 128/785

4,080,961 3/1978 Eaton 128/642

4,090,752 5/1978 Long 128/641 X

4,149,528 4/1979 Murphy 128/642

4,157,710 6/1979 Abitbol 128/642

4,217,913 8/1980 Dutcher 128/785

4,281,659 8/1981 Farrar et al 128/642 X

4,299,232 11/1981 Zilianti 128/643 X

4,301,806 11/1981 Heifer 128/642

4,320,764 3/1982 Hon 128/635

4,321,931 3/1982 Hon 128/642

4,355,642 10/1982 Alferness 128/642

4,501,276 2/1985 Lombardi 128/642

4,658,825 4/1987 Hochberg et al 128/642 X

4,658,835 4/1987 Pohndorf 128/785

4,685,466 8/1987 Rau 123/642 X

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

2749048 5/1979 Fed. Rep. of Germany 128/642

2830412 1/1980 Fed. Rep. of Germany 128/643

4327686 11/1968 Japan 128/642

Primary Examiner—Angela D. Sykes

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Banner, Birch, McKie &

Beckett

[57] ABSTRACT

Device and method for monitoring evoked potentials and/or electroencephalograms including a novel unipolar spiral coil electrode. The unipolar electrode includes a user holder member formed of non-conductive material and having an outside surface adapted to be grasped by the physician's fingers. A spiral coil formed of a conductive material and having a pointed or beveled tip extends forward from the user holder member. The coil is directly attached to the user holder member such that when the user holder member is grasped by the physician's fingers, pressed against the patient's skin and rotated, the tip pierces the patient's skin and the spiral coil is twisted through the epidermis to a distance sufficient to secure the user holder member to the patient but not great enough to pierce the underlying bone. To assist in manipulating the user holder member, the user holder member on its outer surface includes a friction increasing device such as a pair of projecting ears, a knurled surface, or a knob. An electrically conducting wire connects to the holder member, and thus the spiral coil, either through a permanent or a removable connection, and exits preferably rearwardly from the holder member. The wire has an opposite connector end adapted to be connected to a device for monitoring the electrical activity of the brain.

46 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets

F