US4817628A — System and method for evaluating neurological fun…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 124 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of the facial nerves of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the magnitude of acceleration of a part of the face of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring said sensed acceleration magnitudes, said monitoring means including a stimulating means for stimulating the facial nerves of the subject, said sensing means sensing the magnitude of the facial part acceleration evoked by said stimulating means, and said stimulating means including an electrode assembly and a positioning means for positioning said electrode assembly on the subject against the skin overlying the facial nerves below at least one of the subject's ears.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 124 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of the facial nerves of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the magnitude of acceleration of a part of the face of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring said sensed acceleration magnitudes, said monitoring means including a stimulating means for stimulating the facial nerves of the subject, said sensing means sensing the magnitude of the facial part acceleration evoked by said stimulating means, and said stimulating means including an electrode assembly and a positioning means for positioning said electrode assembly on the subject against the skin overlying the facial nerves below at least one of the subject's ears.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 128 words

A system for evaluating nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring said sensed acceleration, said monitoring means measuring the magnitude of the acceleration and comparing said measured magnitude with a control magnitude to evaluate the subject's nervous system function, said control magnitude being the magnitude of acceleration of an evoked movement of another body part of the subject spaced from said body part, and said sensing means including a sensor which measures mechanical muscle energy of the subject and an attaching means for attaching said sensor to the body surface of the subject.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 128 words

A system for evaluating nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring said sensed acceleration, said monitoring means measuring the magnitude of the acceleration and comparing said measured magnitude with a control magnitude to evaluate the subject's nervous system function, said control magnitude being the magnitude of acceleration of an evoked movement of another body part of the subject spaced from said body part, and said sensing means including a sensor which measures mechanical muscle energy of the subject and an attaching means for attaching said sensor to the body surface of the subject.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

The system of claim 2 including, said control magnitude being the magnitude of acceleration of an evoked movement of another body part of the subject spaced from said body part, said body part being one side of the face of the subject, and said another body part being the side of the subject's face opposite said one side.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 138 words

A system for the intraoperative monitoring of the location of a nerve in a patient comprising: a stimulating probe means for stimulating a motor nerve after an incision has been made in the patient and while the patient is under anesthesia during surgery to thereby evoke the movement of a body part of the patient, said stimulating probe means using a pulsatile current to stimulate the nerve, said current being rectangular pulses, an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the magnitude of the stimulated acceleration of said body part stimulated by said stimulating probe means in three-dimensional space, said sensing means directly monitoring the muscular response to said stimulated nerve, and an audible alarm advising means operatively connected to said sensing means for advising the surgeon when said stimulating probe means is within a set distance from the nerve.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 138 words

A system for the intraoperative monitoring of the location of a nerve in a patient comprising: a stimulating probe means for stimulating a motor nerve after an incision has been made in the patient and while the patient is under anesthesia during surgery to thereby evoke the movement of a body part of the patient, said stimulating probe means using a pulsatile current to stimulate the nerve, said current being rectangular pulses, an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the magnitude of the stimulated acceleration of said body part stimulated by said stimulating probe means in three-dimensional space, said sensing means directly monitoring the muscular response to said stimulated nerve, and an audible alarm advising means operatively connected to said sensing means for advising the surgeon when said stimulating probe means is within a set distance from the nerve.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 4 including, said advising means including a visual meter read out.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 4 including, said sensing means measuring the magnitude of the acceleration of said stimulated body part movement.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 4 including, said audible alarm advising means being audible to the surgeon and by the strength of its alarm noise advising the surgeon whether he is getting closer to or farther from an unexposed nerve of the patient.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 4 including, said advising means advising the surgeon by the change in the size of an audible advising response whether he is moving closer to or farther from said unexposed nerve.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 93 words

A system for monitoring the status of an exposed, damaged nerve of a patient undergoing surgery comprising: a stimulating means for directly stimulating the exposed, damaged nerve at various locations thereon and thereby evoking the movement of a body part of the subject, an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the magnitude of the stimulated acceleration of said body part in three-dimensional space to evaluate nervous system function of the subject, a comparing means for comparing said sensed magnitude to a control magnitude, and a displaying means for displaying said magnitude of stimulated acceleration.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 93 words

A system for monitoring the status of an exposed, damaged nerve of a patient undergoing surgery comprising: a stimulating means for directly stimulating the exposed, damaged nerve at various locations thereon and thereby evoking the movement of a body part of the subject, an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the magnitude of the stimulated acceleration of said body part in three-dimensional space to evaluate nervous system function of the subject, a comparing means for comparing said sensed magnitude to a control magnitude, and a displaying means for displaying said magnitude of stimulated acceleration.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 9 including, said comparing means including a measuring means for measuring response latencies, and a display means operatively connected to said measuring means for displaying said measured response latencies.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 9 including, said stimulating means including a bipolar wire electrode.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 9 including, said stimulating means including a bipolar forceps electrode.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 9 including, said control magnitude being obtained by stimulating a nerve distal to the region of said damaged nerve and measuring the magnitude of the stimulated body part acceleration.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: stimulating the nerve of the subject to evoke movement of a body part of the subject, measuring the magnitude of the actual evoked acceleration of the body part along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, said measuring including said body part being one side of the face of said subject, comparing said measured magnitude to a control magnitude to evaluate the function of the motor nervous system of the subject, and said comparing including stimulating the nerves of the subject on the side of his face opposite said one side and measuring the magnitude of the actual acceleration along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the opposite face side evoked by said stimulating of said opposite face side to determine said control magnitude.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: stimulating the nerve of the subject to evoke movement of a body part of the subject, measuring the magnitude of the actual evoked acceleration of the body part along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, said measuring including said body part being one side of the face of said subject, comparing said measured magnitude to a control magnitude to evaluate the function of the motor nervous system of the subject, and said comparing including stimulating the nerves of the subject on the side of his face opposite said one side and measuring the magnitude of the actual acceleration along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the opposite face side evoked by said stimulating of said opposite face side to determine said control magnitude.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 14 including, said comparing including determining the blockage of signal transmission of a nerve by chemical agents.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 14 including, said comparing including determining the blockage of nerve conduction by nerve lesion.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 14 including, said measuring including said at least one axis comprising two perpendicular axes.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 14 including, said measuring including said at least one axis comprising three mutually perpendicular axes.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 14 including, said opposite face side being unparalyzed.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 115 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, said monitoring means including a selecting means for selecting the time interval over which said monitoring means operates, a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject, and said monitoring means monitoring the magnitude of the body part acceleration evoked by said stimulating means.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 115 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, said monitoring means including a selecting means for selecting the time interval over which said monitoring means operates, a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject, and said monitoring means monitoring the magnitude of the body part acceleration evoked by said stimulating means.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 20 including, said at least one axis comprising two axes of three-dimensional space.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 20 including, said at least one axis comprising three axes of three-dimensional space.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 20 including, said monitoring means including a displaying means for displaying the monitored values.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 20 including, said monitoring means including a selecting means for selecting the time interval over which said monitoring means operates.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 20 including, said monitoring means including a measuring means for measuring the latency of force response following nerve stimulation by said stimulating means.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 20 including, said stimulating means including a stimulus electrode assembly, and said sensing means including an accelerometer sensor for measuring the body part movement evoked by said stimulus electrode assembly.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 20 including, said sensing means sensing the evoked movement of a body part evoked by said stimulating means.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 20 including, said stimulating means stimulating the brain or spinal cord of the subject.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 20 including, said monitoring means determining the degree of damage to a part of the subject's motor nervous system.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 20 including, said accelerometer sensing means comprising a piezoresistive accelerometer.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 154 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed acceleration to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, said sensing means including a sensor housing, a flexible cantilever filament attached at one end to said housing, a weight attached to the other end of said filament, a distorting means capable of being distorted and attached to said filament, said distorting means being caused to distort and the resistance thereof to be altered by the movement of said housing caused by said body part, and an observing means for observing said altered resistance, and an attaching means for attaching said sensor housing to the subject.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 154 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed acceleration to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, said sensing means including a sensor housing, a flexible cantilever filament attached at one end to said housing, a weight attached to the other end of said filament, a distorting means capable of being distorted and attached to said filament, said distorting means being caused to distort and the resistance thereof to be altered by the movement of said housing caused by said body part, and an observing means for observing said altered resistance, and an attaching means for attaching said sensor housing to the subject.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 45 words

The system of claim 31 including, said attaching means comprising a static suction means, and said static suction means including a generating means remote to said sensing means for generating a suction force, and a suction tubing connecting said generating means to said sensing means.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 32 including, said generating means being a spring-loaded syringe.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 31 including, said attaching means being adapted to attach said sensor housing to generally all body parts of the subject.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 119 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed acceleration, said sensing means sensing the magnitude of the acceleration serving as an index of the force of said movement, said monitoring means monitoring the magnitude of the force of said movements to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, and said monitoring means monitoring the maximum magnitude of the time integral of said force occurring over a testing period.

Claim 43

Independent Claim 119 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed acceleration, said sensing means sensing the magnitude of the acceleration serving as an index of the force of said movement, said monitoring means monitoring the magnitude of the force of said movements to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, and said monitoring means monitoring the maximum magnitude of the time integral of said force occurring over a testing period.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 128 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, and a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed acceleration, said monitoring means monitoring force development over a continuous range in the subject who is performing voluntary motor tasks and correlating the resulting information with recordings from the nervous system to investigate the neural control of movement of the subject, and said monitoring means including a displaying means for displaying the body part acceleration sensed by said sensing means as a function of time and over said continuous range.

Claim 45

Independent Claim 128 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, and a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed acceleration, said monitoring means monitoring force development over a continuous range in the subject who is performing voluntary motor tasks and correlating the resulting information with recordings from the nervous system to investigate the neural control of movement of the subject, and said monitoring means including a displaying means for displaying the body part acceleration sensed by said sensing means as a function of time and over said continuous range.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 12 words

The system of claim 36 including, said displaying means comprising an oscilloscope.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 113 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nervous system of the subject to thereby evoke movement of at least one body part of the subject, an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of the body part evoked by said stimulating means along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively connected to said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed acceleration to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, and said monitoring means calculating the integral of the force detected by said sensing means over time.

Claim 48

Independent Claim 113 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nervous system of the subject to thereby evoke movement of at least one body part of the subject, an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of the body part evoked by said stimulating means along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively connected to said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed acceleration to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, and said monitoring means calculating the integral of the force detected by said sensing means over time.

Claim 49

Independent Claim 98 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed acceleration, said monitoring means including a comparing means for comparing said acceleration magnitude to a normal value to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, and said comparing means expressing said magnitude as a percentage of said normal value.

Claim 50

Independent Claim 98 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed acceleration, said monitoring means including a comparing means for comparing said acceleration magnitude to a normal value to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, and said comparing means expressing said magnitude as a percentage of said normal value.

Claim 51

Independent Claim 79 words

A method for evaluating nervous system function of a subject comprising: stimulating the nerve of the subject to evoke movement of a body part of the subject, measuring the magnitude of the actual evoked acceleration of the body part along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, comparing said measured magnitude to a control magnitude to evaluate the function of the nervous system of the subject, said comparing including monitoring the location of an unexposed peripheral nerve during surgery.

Claim 52

Independent Claim 79 words

A method for evaluating nervous system function of a subject comprising: stimulating the nerve of the subject to evoke movement of a body part of the subject, measuring the magnitude of the actual evoked acceleration of the body part along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, comparing said measured magnitude to a control magnitude to evaluate the function of the nervous system of the subject, said comparing including monitoring the location of an unexposed peripheral nerve during surgery.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 40 including, said comparing including evaluating the function of the subject's motor nervous system.

Claim 54

Independent Claim 98 words

A method for evaluating nervous system function of a subject comprising: stimulating the nerve of the subject to evoke movement of a body part of the subject, measuring the magnitude of the actual evoked acceleration of the body part along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, comparing said measured magnitude to a control magnitude to evaluate the function of the nervous system of the subject, said comparing including locating the sites on the damaged nerve where damage has occurred, and said comparing further including evaluating the severity of the damage to said damaged nerve at said sites.

Claim 55

Independent Claim 98 words

A method for evaluating nervous system function of a subject comprising: stimulating the nerve of the subject to evoke movement of a body part of the subject, measuring the magnitude of the actual evoked acceleration of the body part along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, comparing said measured magnitude to a control magnitude to evaluate the function of the nervous system of the subject, said comparing including locating the sites on the damaged nerve where damage has occurred, and said comparing further including evaluating the severity of the damage to said damaged nerve at said sites.

Claim 56

Independent Claim 98 words

A method for evaluating nervous system function of a subject comprising: stimulating an unexposed nerve of the subject to evoke movement of a body part of the subject, measuring the magnitude of the actual evoked acceleration of the body part along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, comparing said measured magnitude to a control magnitude to evaluate the function of the nervous system of the subject, said comparing including intraoperative monitoring of the location of said unexposed nerve, and said intraoperative monitoring including alerting the surgeon when his surgical instrument gets too close to said unexposed nerve.

Claim 57

Independent Claim 98 words

A method for evaluating nervous system function of a subject comprising: stimulating an unexposed nerve of the subject to evoke movement of a body part of the subject, measuring the magnitude of the actual evoked acceleration of the body part along at least one axis of three-dimensional space, comparing said measured magnitude to a control magnitude to evaluate the function of the nervous system of the subject, said comparing including intraoperative monitoring of the location of said unexposed nerve, and said intraoperative monitoring including alerting the surgeon when his surgical instrument gets too close to said unexposed nerve.

Claim 58

Independent Claim 111 words

A system for the intraoperative monitoring of the location of a nerve in a patient comprising: a stimulating probe means for stimulating an intact nondamaged motor nerve after an incision has been made in the patient and while the patient is under anesthesia during surgery to thereby evoke the movement of a body part of the patient, an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the magnitude of the stimulated acceleration of said body part stimulated by said stimulating probe means in three-dimensional space, and an audible alarm advising means operatively connected to said sensing means for advising the surgeon when said stimulating probe means is within a set distance from the nerve.

Claim 59

Independent Claim 111 words

A system for the intraoperative monitoring of the location of a nerve in a patient comprising: a stimulating probe means for stimulating an intact nondamaged motor nerve after an incision has been made in the patient and while the patient is under anesthesia during surgery to thereby evoke the movement of a body part of the patient, an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the magnitude of the stimulated acceleration of said body part stimulated by said stimulating probe means in three-dimensional space, and an audible alarm advising means operatively connected to said sensing means for advising the surgeon when said stimulating probe means is within a set distance from the nerve.

Claim 60

Independent Claim 142 words

A system for the intraoperative monitoring of the location of a nerve in a patient comprising: a stimulating probe means for stimulating an intact nondamaged motor nerve after an incision has been made in the patient and while the patient is under anesthesia during surgery to thereby evoke the movement of a body part of the patient, an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the magnitude of the stimulated acceleration of said body part stimulated by said stimulating probe means in three-dimensional space, an audible alarm advising means operatively connected to said sensing means for advising the surgeon when said stimulating probe means is within a set distance from the nerve, and said sensing means giving an objective measurement to the surgeon of the size of the body part response to the stimulation of the patient's motor nerve by said stimulating probe means.

Claim 61

Independent Claim 142 words

A system for the intraoperative monitoring of the location of a nerve in a patient comprising: a stimulating probe means for stimulating an intact nondamaged motor nerve after an incision has been made in the patient and while the patient is under anesthesia during surgery to thereby evoke the movement of a body part of the patient, an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the magnitude of the stimulated acceleration of said body part stimulated by said stimulating probe means in three-dimensional space, an audible alarm advising means operatively connected to said sensing means for advising the surgeon when said stimulating probe means is within a set distance from the nerve, and said sensing means giving an objective measurement to the surgeon of the size of the body part response to the stimulation of the patient's motor nerve by said stimulating probe means.

Claim 62

Independent Claim 145 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject, said monitoring means including a sensor circuit for processing sensor information from said sensing means, said stimulating means including a stimulus circuit for delivering stimuli to the motor nerve controlling said body part, and said monitoring means further including a timing circuit for timing both the delivery of the stimuli by said stimulus circuit and the extraction of processed sensor information from said sensor circuit.

Claim 63

Independent Claim 145 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject, said monitoring means including a sensor circuit for processing sensor information from said sensing means, said stimulating means including a stimulus circuit for delivering stimuli to the motor nerve controlling said body part, and said monitoring means further including a timing circuit for timing both the delivery of the stimuli by said stimulus circuit and the extraction of processed sensor information from said sensor circuit.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 46 including, said monitoring means including an evaluating means for evaluating the function of the subject's motor nervous system.

Claim 65

Independent Claim 101 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject, and said stimulating means activating the subject's facial nerve root as it exits his skull below and behind his ear lobe.

Claim 66

Independent Claim 101 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject, and said stimulating means activating the subject's facial nerve root as it exits his skull below and behind his ear lobe.

Claim 67

Independent Claim 108 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject, and said monitoring means monitoring the magnitude of the movement electrically evoked by said stimulating means for assessing the severity of damage to the subject's motor nervous system.

Claim 68

Independent Claim 108 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject, and said monitoring means monitoring the magnitude of the movement electrically evoked by said stimulating means for assessing the severity of damage to the subject's motor nervous system.

Claim 69

Independent Claim 96 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, said body part being a small patch of skin generally a few millimeters in diameter, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, and a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject.

Claim 70

Independent Claim 96 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, said body part being a small patch of skin generally a few millimeters in diameter, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, and a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject.

Claim 71

Independent Claim 108 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject, and said monitoring means monitoring the magnitude of the movement electrically evoked by said stimulating means for assessing the severity of damage to the subject's motor nervous system.

Claim 72

Independent Claim 108 words

A system for evaluating motor nervous system function of a subject comprising: an accelerometer sensing means for sensing the actual linear acceleration of a body part of the subject along at least one axis of three-dimensional space of the stationary external world, a monitoring means operatively associated with said sensing means for monitoring the magnitude of said sensed accelerations to evaluate the function of the subject's motor nervous system, a stimulating means for stimulating the motor nerves of the subject, and said monitoring means monitoring the magnitude of the movement electrically evoked by said stimulating means for assessing the severity of damage to the subject's motor nervous system.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-04-03	1992-10-03	1993-04-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-04-03	1996-10-03	1997-04-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-04-03	2000-10-03	2001-04-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for evaluating neurological function controlling muscular movements

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