Comparison of time-frequency analysis techniques in intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) monitoring

Comput Biol Med. 2002 Jan;32(1):13-23. doi: 10.1016/s0010-4825(01)00026-9.

Abstract

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) can be monitored during spinal surgery to prevent possible spinal cord injury. In order to improve the reliability of SEP monitoring, an investigation of the application of various time-frequency analysis (TFA) techniques to detect both temporal and spectral changes in SEP waveforms was conducted. SEP signals from 15 scoliosis patients were analysed using various methods. The time-frequency distributions (TFDs) computed using these methods were assessed and compared. The most appropriate TFA technique may depend on the type of SEP signal, Short term Fourier transform (STFT) with a 20 point length Hanning window probably provides the best result for SEP signals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • Electroencephalography / statistics & numerical data*
  • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / physiology*
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Complications / physiopathology
  • Intraoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Mathematical Computing
  • Monitoring, Intraoperative / statistics & numerical data*
  • Scoliosis / physiopathology
  • Scoliosis / surgery*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted*
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / physiopathology
  • Spinal Cord Injuries / prevention & control