Smart control for functional electrical stimulation with optimal pulse intensity

Abstract

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.

Brain-Computer Interface Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation: Evaluation With Healthy Subjects and Spinal Cord Injury Patients

“…This device is a current-controlled stimulator designed for motor rehabilitation applications [35], [36]. There is a detailed description of the MOTIONSTIM8 and its functionality in [37]. To communicate the FES device with the BCI, a serial communication protocol was used with a baud rate at 38400.…”