System and method for high density electrode management

Inventors

Cadwell, John A. • Jensen, Patrick Scott • Vazquez, Brandon • Dearing, Wayne

Assignees

Cadwell Laboratories Inc

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods for advanced electrode management in neurological monitoring applications include receiving sockets configured to receive connectors having groups of electrodes. The physician is not required to manually map each electrode with its corresponding input channel. Electrodes are coupled to the corresponding input channels in groups through connectors having a unique identification (ID). The system is configured to read the unique ID of each connector and establish its identity. Based on the ID, the system configures itself to automatically correlate or associate each electrode with its corresponding input channel when the connectors are first inserted into the receiving sockets, and again if the connectors are removed and re-inserted into different positions in the receiving sockets, to insure the electrodes are always mapped to the same input channels.

Core Innovation

Disclosed is a high-density neuromonitoring/neurodiagnostics electrode management system in which electrode groups are terminated to connectors that transmit unique identification information and connector orientation information to a control unit. The connectors include a first output pin configured to transmit a first identification code and a second output pin configured to transmit an orientation of the first connector. A receiving unit receives connectors and provides the control unit with the identification code upon connection so that electrodes are mapped to input channels automatically.

The control unit is configured to automatically determine a first identification code upon a first connector being connected and to associate a first electrode with a first input channel based on the first identification code. The control unit also receives a second connector associated with a second identification code different from the first identification code, determines the second identification code, and associates a second electrode with a second input channel different from the first input channel based on the second identification code. The disclosed approach enables automatic mapping and association even after connector removal and reinsertion in different receiving socket positions and/or orientations.

Connector identification and orientation are detected using connector/keying and orientation detection techniques such as unique identification codes, including an example of a 128-bit GUID, and encoded identification formats, including bar code, RFID, and dip switch with resistor, and orientation indication via designated ID/output pin behavior and keyed connector mechanical lockout. The document further describes optional consolidators for bulk connection, automatic enabling/disabling, and sanity checks based on detected electrode configuration, and reverse identification in which user-selected GUI traces trigger visual indicators and enable 3D co-registration/stimulation mapping using electrode IDs.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides one independent claim directed to a control unit for monitoring a patient with automatic connector identification and orientation detection and electrode-to-input-channel association based on identification codes transmitted from connectors. The claim includes three inventive features, with dependent claims refining identification-code and orientation detection formats and data-path details.

Overall, the claim set centers on a control unit that automatically determines connector identification codes and connector orientation information from connectors, and then associates electrodes to specific input channels based on those codes, including orientation signaling and multiple specified identification and orientation implementation options in dependent claims.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications