Universal IONM Devices

June 1, 2021

Universal Intraoperative Neuromonitoring

Challenges in the IONM Market

The current IONM market is abundant, with various companies creating neuromonitoring surgical devices. With a vast market of IONM platforms and accessories, surgeons and hospital administrators face many challenges in evaluating and selecting the best solution for their clinical environment. One of the biggest challenges is the perception that a neuromonitoring system is only compatible with their brand of IONM surgical accessories. This lingering perception leaves clinicians and hospital administrators feeling limited in selecting accessories or a new system that suits their needs.

However, there is a widespread usage of IONM accessories that demonstrates the opposite. The compatibility between IONM monitoring devices and a separate company’s surgical accessories is common practice and does not affect the technology’s performance. Neurovision Medical Products has been creating IONM devices and serving the medical community for over 35 years. NMPs surgical solutions are unique designs with clinicians and compatibility in mind. This approach promotes that healthcare facilities are not limited to a single vendor. Unfortunately, this mindset frequently hampers the adoption of innovation, limits access to superior healthcare, and can be costly to the hospital. NMPs surgical devices are used in various procedures, paired with the company’s nerve monitoring system, Nerveäna, or other commercial nerve monitoring systems.

Clinical Use Demonstrates Universal Compatibility

Mike Demarco, CNIM, is an IONM clinician with over 34 years of experience working in Intraoperative Monitoring and Neurodiagnostics. With over 6,000 procedures in his neuromonitoring career, Mr. Demarco has practiced at some of the most distinguished medical centers in the country. He has extensive experience with multiple IONM systems including, Cadwell Cascade, Medtronic NIM 2.0, and NIM Spine over the time of his career. As a highly experienced neurophysiologist, Mr. Demarco found Neurovision Medical Products IONM EMG devices comparable to competitors in functionality and compatibility.

While using NMP devices, Mr. Demarco reported that:

  • Intubation with Cobra EMG endotracheal tube was optimal, the sizing matched standard ET tubes
  • Connectors were universal (color-coded DIN 42802), making them easy to use and preventing confusion
  • Cobra’s built-in IONM features worked efficiently with various IONM platforms alerting the clinician of neural feedback that may indicate neuropraxia, nerve fatigue/injury
  • Mr. Demarco did not need to change or adjust his routine, protocols, or settings on the IONM platforms to use NMP devices

Mr. Demarco’s experiences demonstrate the compatibility of NMPs devices and their universal application with any IONM device. Continue to read more about Mr. Demarco’s experience and interoperability in the IONM community, Device Interoperability within the IONM Market