Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) is the use of a variety of electro-physiological and vascular monitoring procedures during surgery to allow early warning and avoidance of injury to nervous system structures. Neural tissue is stimulated with a brief electrical pulse that evokes signals that can be recorded from other neural structures that are functionally connected to the tissue (i.e. other nerves, muscle, spinal cord and brain). Its purpose is to reduce the incidence of medically induced and random neurological injuries to patients during surgical procedures.

Consequently, IONM delivers possible benefits at many levels of medical care, including:

• Reduced patient neurological deficits
• Markedly reduced surgical morbidity and mortality
• Reduced hospital stay and medical costs
• Reduced overall insurance burden

IMI's brand of IONM involves certified neurophysiologists (technologists) who work in partnership with highly trained neurologists using state-of-the-art-monitoring equipment to provide surgeons, hospitals and medical centers with a complete, real-time outsourced IONM program. Neurophysiologists located in the operating room work as a team with supervising neurologists who oversee the interpretation of the neurophysiological data gathered remotely during surgery through broadband real-time transmission of signals and instant messaging communication (hence the term "real-time monitoring"). Additional remote technical and senior neurophysiologist expertise is also available as needed, along with access to a broad range of on-line knowledge resources