High-reliability microcontroller nerve stimulator for assistance in regional anaesthesia procedures.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Anesthesiology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Nerve stimulators are crucial for precise regional anesthesia.
• Existing devices often lack recommended features, posing patient risks.
• A need exists for advanced nerve stimulators meeting all blockade requirements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and develop an embedded electronics-based nerve stimulator.
• To ensure the device meets all specifications for successful nerve blockade.
• To enhance patient safety and procedural efficacy in regional anesthesia.

Main Methods:

• Development of modular system for current pulse generation and control.
• Integration of patient and user interfaces.
• Testing of system linearity across various body impedances and field trials.

Main Results:

• The designed nerve stimulator meets required specifications for reliability.
• Satisfactory linearity ensures accurate current amplitude across impedances.
• Field tests demonstrated successful plexus blocking with higher quality and faster diffusion.

Conclusions:

• The developed nerve stimulator is a reliable and effective tool for regional anesthesia.
• The device improves the quality and efficiency of nerve blockade procedures.
• It offers a safer alternative to existing nerve stimulators with suboptimal features.