Medtronic recently announced the launch of the NIM-Response® 3.0 and NIM-Neuro® 3.0 intraoperative nerve integrity monitors designed for a variety of surgeons, including ear, nose, and throat (ENT); endocrine; general; and peripheral surgeons. During minimally invasive or traditional open surgery, Medtronic's Nerve Integrity Monitor (NIM®) systems enable surgeons to identify and confirm motor nerve function and monitor major motor nerves throughout the body, such as cranial nerves in a patient's head, face and neck. If there is a change in nerve function, the NIM system provides visual and audible warnings to alert the surgeon and operating room staff. This helps reduce the risk of nerve damage during surgery, improving safety and peace-of-mind for patients and surgeons.

"Medtronic has 20 years of innovation, experience and leadership in nerve monitoring combining our experience with that of our customers," said Carla Pagotto, product manager for Intraoperative Monitoring with the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) division at Medtronic. "Our new NIM systems expand monitoring capabilities in the operating room to help improve patient safety. We bring exciting new features to our customers and make the systems significantly easier to use with redesigned software."

The NIM 3.0 systems are the first and only nerve monitors in the marketplace that fully enable:
* Simultaneous monitoring during bipolar cautery
* Artifact detection software that distinguishes artifacts (false signals) from true nerve signals
* Stim Bur technology that combines stimulation with Medtronic's electric Visao® High-Speed Otologic Drill
* Real-time continuous monitoring of nerve function via APS™ (Automatic Periodic Stimulation)* that provides early warning of a change in nerve function

With completely redesigned software, the new NIM 3.0 systems are easier to use and more convenient for the operating room than prior models. Users can navigate easily and quickly between three simple modes: Setup, Monitoring and Reports, and use default or custom settings. In addition, the new systems include multiple reporting options that can be easily saved for patient records.

The NIM-Response 3.0 monitors up to four channels of nerve-muscle combinations at a time and is frequently used in skull-based and head and neck procedures. With the NIM-Neuro 3.0, neurotologists and neurosurgeons can monitor up to eight channels of nerve-muscle combinations during complex and delicate surgeries, such as glomus tumor removals. In the future, Medtronic expects a new microscope overlay for the NIM-Neuro 3.0 will help bring monitoring within the surgical field by importing the NIM signal through a high-end microscope as the surgeon operates.

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