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Abstract

A hand-held disposable combination surgical nerve evaluator and locator is provided. The device includes a housing that serves as a handpiece and that accommodates a printed circuit board, a DC voltage source and a compressed gas source. Two pre-programmed settings are provided by way of a nerve evaluation switch and a nerve location switch. By choosing a nerve evaluation switch, a pulsed current is sent down one electrical lead that extends outward from the housing. A return electrical lead is provided that also extends outward from the housing in a parallel, but spaced-apart relationship from the other electrical lead. Compressed gas is delivered to the distal ends of the first and second electrical leads by a cannula that is connected to the compressed gas source. It will also be noted that the return or the second electrical lead can also serve as a cannula for the delivery of compressed gas. A fiber optic light guide may also be provided to illuminate the area around the distal ends of the two electrical leads. In a nerve evaluation mode, when the nerve evaluation switch has been activated, a pulsed current is delivered to the first electrical lead. Similarly, in a nerve location mode, a pulsed current is also delivered to the first electrical lead. However, the frequency of the pulsed current in the nerve evaluation mode is less than the frequency of the current in the nerve location mode, the pulse duration in the nerve evaluation mode is less than the pulse duration in the nerve location mode and the amplitude of the current in the nerve evaluation mode is less than the amplitude of the current in the nerve location mode.

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