Enhancing the performances of a spine surgery by using a silicon pressure sensor

This paper presents a pressure sensor aimed at spine surgery, which is attached to a nerve root retractor. To study the effects of excessive nerve root retraction due to the surgeon improper operation, a nerve root retractor equipped with a pressure sensor is utilized in animal experiments to assess the pressure applied on the retracted nerve root. Meanwhile, the nerve root being retracted is stimulated and the neuromuscular response owing to the stimulation signal is monitored. The pressure exerted upon the nerve root is related to the neuromuscular response through the results of the experiments. The pressure could be a function of the retraction´s duration and degree, which is benefit for applying suitable pressure on a nerve root.