Distributed functional electrical stimulation system
First Claim
1. A multi-purpose, functional electrical stimulation (FES) system which includes:
- an implantable stimulator unit for stimulating a plurality of different sites in a patient'"'"'s body;
a transmitter arranged externally of the patient'"'"'s body for supplying signals transcutaneously to the stimulator unit;
a controller in communication with the transmitter; and
at least one implantable switching node having an input terminal in electrical communication with the stimulator unit and a plurality of output terminals to each of which one of a further switching node and a stimulating element is connected, the switching node including an addressing means for switching at least one output terminal into electrical connection with the input terminal of the switching node in response to a control signal received from the controller via the stimulator unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-purpose, functional electrical stimulation (FES) system 10 includes an implantable stimulator unit 12 for stimulating a plurality of different sites in a patient'"'"'s body 14. A transmitter 20 is arranged externally of the patient'"'"'s body 14 for supplying signals transcutaneously to the stimulator unit 12. A controller 16 is in communication with the transmitter 20. At least one implantable switching node 26 has an input terminal 30 in electrical communication with the stimulator unit 12 and a plurality of output terminals to each of which one of a further switching node 26 and a stimulating element 24 is connected. The switching node 26 including addressing circuitry 44 for switching at least one output terminal into electrical connection with the input terminal 30 of the switching node 26 in response to a control signal received from the controller 16 via the stimulator unit 12.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A multi-purpose, functional electrical stimulation (FES) system which includes:
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an implantable stimulator unit for stimulating a plurality of different sites in a patient'"'"'s body;
a transmitter arranged externally of the patient'"'"'s body for supplying signals transcutaneously to the stimulator unit;
a controller in communication with the transmitter; and
at least one implantable switching node having an input terminal in electrical communication with the stimulator unit and a plurality of output terminals to each of which one of a further switching node and a stimulating element is connected, the switching node including an addressing means for switching at least one output terminal into electrical connection with the input terminal of the switching node in response to a control signal received from the controller via the stimulator unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A switching node for use in a multi-purpose, functional electrical stimulation (FES) system, the switching node including:
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an input terminal for receiving command signals from an implantable stimulator unit of the system;
a plurality of output terminals to each of which one of a further switching node and a stimulating element is connectable; and
an addressing means for addressing the output terminals for connecting at least one of said output terminals to the input terminal upon receipt of an appropriate signal from the stimulator unit, in use, to enable an output signal to be output from that output terminal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification