SYSTEMS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUES FOR MONITORING NERVE STATUS

A method for monitoring nerve tissue status during a surgical procedure using a monitoring system that includes a stimulating electrode and a sensing electrode each positioned in proximity to a nerve of a patient. Each electrode may be mono- or bi-polar. A first electrical stimulus is applied by the stimulating electrode and received by the sensing electrode. A monitoring unit determines a first transit time for the first stimulus. A second electrical stimulus is applied by the stimulating electrode and received by the sensing electrode. The monitoring unit determines a second transit time for the second stimulus. The monitoring unit then notifies a user if the second transit time is greater than the first transit time by a predetermined threshold, which may indicate degradation in nerve performance.