Functional electrical stimulation aims to help patients suffering from stroke or spinal cord injury to supplement lost motor function. Effective functional electrical stimulation requires precise placement of the stimulation electrode. Finding the correct placement, however, can be difficult and time consuming. Another common problem with functional electrical stimulation is early occurrence of muscle fatigue upon repetitive stimulation, limiting treatment efficiency. Both, precise electrode placement as well as the reduction of muscle fatigue can be achieved using multi-pad electrodes. Here we present a new standalone device for multi-pad functional electrical stimulation. The device is easy to use and designed to help patients recovering from stroke to train and perform opening of the hand.
The goal of functional electrical stimulation is to restore lost movements by excitation of motor axons inner-vating the target muscle. For optimal electrode placement and geometry the distribution and spatial orientation of the desired motor axons has to be known. In this study, the response of motor axons with different orientations to electrical stimulation was simulated. Three electrode geometries with the same area were used. The simulated axon activation was compared to experimental force measurements and showed good agreements. It is now assumed that optimal electrode geometry does strongly depend on motor axon orientation, which can vary from one subject to the other. Lack of knowledge about the dominant motor axon orientation makes the use of square, round or multi-pad electrodes favorable.
Abstract:Transcutaneous electrical stimulation is a common treatment option for patients suffering from spinal cord injury or stroke. Two major difficulties arise when employing electrical stimulation in patients: Accurate stimulation electrode placement and configuration of optimal stimulation parameters. Optimizing the stimulation parameters has the advantage to reduce muscle fatigue after repetitive stimulation. Here we present a newly developed system which is able to automatically find the optimal individual stimulation intensity by varying the pulse length. The effectiveness is measured with flex sensors. By adapting the stimulation parameters, the effect of muscle fatigue can be compensated, allowing for a more stable movement upon stimulation over time.
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