Neuroprosthesis system for improved lower-limb function

• US 20040122483A1
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bioness Neuromodulation Ltd.
• Original Assignee: N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Dar, Amit, Nathan, Roger H.
• Application Number:
  US10/335,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122483A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance

Abstract

A gait modulation system for improving lower-limb function of a patient having neuromuscular impairment of the lower limbs, including: (a) a sensor associated with a lower limb, for transducing a parameter related to the lower limb, so as to obtain gait information related to at least one gait event within a gait cycle; (b) a neuroprosthesis device including: (i) an electrode array operatively connected to an impaired lower limb, for performing functional electrical stimulation (FES) of at least one muscle of the impaired lower limb; (c) a muscle stimulator operatively connected to the electrode array, for supplying a muscle stimulation output to the array, and (d) a microprocessor operatively connected to the sensor, the microprocessor for processing the gait information and for controlling the muscle stimulation output via the muscle stimulator, wherein the gait modulation system has a sleep mode for autonomous reduction of the muscle stimulation output to the array, the microprocessor being designed and configured to control the autonomous reduction based on the gait information.

Claims

1. A gait modulation system utilizing functional electrical stimulation for improving lower-limb function of a patient having neuromuscular impairment of the lower limbs, the gait modulation system comprising:

(a) at least one sensor associated with at least one lower limb of the patient, said sensor for transducing a parameter related to said lower limb, so as to obtain gait information related to at least one gait event within a gait cycle;

(b) a neuroprosthesis device including;

(i) an electrode array operatively connected to an impaired lower limb of the patient, said electrode array for performing functional electrical stimulation (FES) of at least one muscle of said impaired lower limb;

(c) a muscle stimulator operatively connected to said electrode array, said muscle stimulator for supplying a muscle stimulation output to said electrode array, and

(d) a microprocessor operatively connected to said at least one sensor, said microprocessor for processing said gait information and for controlling said muscle stimulation output via said muscle stimulator,

wherein the gait modulation system has a sleep mode for autonomous reduction of said muscle stimulation output to said electrode array, said microprocessor designed and configured to control said autonomous reduction based on said gait information.

2. The gait modulation system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is designed and configured to identify a period of inactivity in said at least one lower limb, and subsequently perform said control of said autonomous reduction.

3. The gait modulation system of claim 2, wherein a threshold time for said period of inactivity is T₁ seconds.

4. The gait modulation system of claim 1, wherein said parameter is a force-related parameter.

5. The gait modulation system of claim 1, wherein said parameter relates to a foot-floor reaction between said at least one lower limb and a walking surface, and wherein said microprocessor is designed and configured to ramp down said muscle stimulation output when said gait information lies within a predetermined range for a first predetermined period of T₁ seconds.

6. The gait modulation system of claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is operative for identification of an initiation of a period of activity in said at least one lower limb, based on said gait information, and subsequently, for effecting an autonomous resumption of said muscle stimulation output to said electrode array, based on said identification.

7. The gait modulation system of claim 6, wherein said identification includes an algorithm for ignoring said gait information during a predetermined period of T₂ seconds, so as to inhibit inadvertent re-activation of said neuroprosthesis device.

8. The gait modulation system of claim 6, wherein said at least one lower limb includes said impaired lower limb.

9. The gait modulation system of claim 6, wherein said at least one lower limb is a single lower limb, and wherein said single lower limb and said impaired lower limb are different limbs.

10. The gait modulation system of claim 6, wherein said electrode array is for contacting at least a portion of a skin surface of said impaired limb, so as to deliver said FES via said skin surface.

11. The gait modulation system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is selected from a group consisting of an on—

off switch, force sensor, pressure sensor, gyroscopic tilt sensor, accelerometer, and goniometer.

12. A gait modulation system utilizing functional electrical stimulation for improving lower-limb function of a patient having neuromuscular impairment of the lower limbs, the gait modulation system comprising:

(a) at least one sensor associated with at least one lower limb of the patient, said sensor for transducing a parameter related to said lower limb, so as to obtain gait information related to at least one gait event within at least a part of a gait cycle;

(b) a neuroprosthesis device including;

(i) an electrode array operatively connected to an impaired lower limb of the patient, said electrode array for performing functional electrical stimulation (FES) of at least one muscle of said impaired lower limb;

(c) a muscle stimulator operatively connected to said electrode array, said muscle stimulator for supplying a muscle stimulation output to said electrode array, and

(d) a microprocessor operatively connected to said at least one sensor, said microprocessor for receiving and processing said gait information and for controlling said muscle stimulation output via said muscle stimulator,

wherein said sensor has a bias introduced into the transduced parameter for time-biasing said muscle stimulation output with respect to said gait event, based on said gait information, so as to improve the lower-limb function of the patient.

13. The gait modulation system of claim 12, wherein said time-biasing of said muscle stimulation output is performed so as to anticipate said gait event.

14. The gait modulation system of claim 12, wherein said time-biasing of said muscle stimulation output is delayed with respect to said gait event.

15. The gait modulation system of claim 12, wherein a time bias of said muscle stimulation output is a function of a gait speed of the patient.

16. The gait modulation system of claim 15, wherein said time bias is proportional to said gait speed of the patient.

17. The gait modulation system of claim 12, wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of force sensor, pressure sensor, gyroscopic tilt sensor, accelerometer, and goniometer.

18. A neuroprosthesis system for improving lower-limb function of a patient having neuromuscular impairment of the lower limbs, the neuroprosthesis system comprising:

(a) at least one sensor associated with at least one lower limb of the patient, said sensor for producing a transduced parameter related to said lower limb,

(b) a neuroprosthesis device including;

(i) an electrode array operatively connected to an impaired lower limb of the patient, said electrode array for performing functional electrical stimulation (FES) of at least one muscle of said impaired lower limb;

(c) a muscle stimulator operatively connected to said electrode array, said muscle stimulator for supplying a muscle stimulation output to said electrode array, and

(d) a microprocessor operatively connected to said at least one sensor, said microprocessor for control of said muscle stimulation output, using said transduced parameter, so as to improve a standing balance of the patient.

19. The neuroprosthesis system of claim 18, said microprocessor designed and configured to process said transduced parameter using an artificial balance control algorithm.

20. The neuroprosthesis system of claim 18, wherein said electrode array is configured and disposed so as to perform said FES on an ankle plantar flexor.

21. The neuroprosthesis system of claim 18, wherein said electrode array is configured and disposed so as to perform said FES on an ankle dorsi flexor.