System for functional electrical stimulation
First Claim
1. A system adapted for providing electrical stimulation to a plurality of muscles of a human leg, said system adapted for use with a reciprocating leg exercise device, said device having a footrest adapted to receive force applied by the foot, comprising:
- a plurality of sensors adapted for wireless communications and for implant in a plurality of muscles of the leg, wherein at least one of the sensors being adapted for implant in the thigh of the leg, at least another one of the sensors being adapted for implant in the shank of the leg, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a magnetic field generator, and at least another one of the sensors comprises a magnetic field sensor;
a plurality of stimulators adapted for wireless communications and for implant in said leg for stimulating a plurality of muscles of the leg, wherein at least three of the stimulators are adapted to stimulate a respective one of the;
gluteus maximus, quadriceps and hamstring muscles;
and a system control unit adapted for wireless communications with each of the plurality of sensors and each of the plurality of stimulators, wherein the magnetic field sensor is adapted to transmit data corresponding to the sensed magnetic field for reception by the system control unit, and wherein responsive to the data received, the system control unit transmits a stimulation command to at least one of the plurality of stimulators.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exercising system and method for the treatment and rehabilitation of the paralyzed muscles of the legs. Stimulators and sensors are implanted in several of the main muscle groups of the legs. A computerized controller uses wireless signals for communications with the implanted stimulators and sensors. The person receiving the treatment sits on an exercise machine such as a stationery bicycle, a leg press, a rowing machine or other leg exercising machine. The controller determines the position of the legs and transmits a series of commands to the stimulators to provide functional electrical stimulation (FES) to the muscles of the legs, which move the legs in a cyclical or reciprocating manner, such as that needed to pedal a bicycle. Using data provided by the implanted sensors, the controller is able to adjust the stimulation commands sent to the muscles of the legs to control the amount of force exerted by the foot, to limit user fatigue and to keep the foot in a neutral position on the pedal or footrest. Users of the system who are partially paralyzed in the legs can receive an implanted EMG sensor and the controller can synchronize the stimulation of their paralyzed leg muscles with the user'"'"'s own voluntary activation of their leg muscles.
103 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system adapted for providing electrical stimulation to a plurality of muscles of a human leg, said system adapted for use with a reciprocating leg exercise device, said device having a footrest adapted to receive force applied by the foot, comprising:
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a plurality of sensors adapted for wireless communications and for implant in a plurality of muscles of the leg, wherein at least one of the sensors being adapted for implant in the thigh of the leg, at least another one of the sensors being adapted for implant in the shank of the leg, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a magnetic field generator, and at least another one of the sensors comprises a magnetic field sensor;
a plurality of stimulators adapted for wireless communications and for implant in said leg for stimulating a plurality of muscles of the leg, wherein at least three of the stimulators are adapted to stimulate a respective one of the;
gluteus maximus, quadriceps and hamstring muscles;
and a system control unit adapted for wireless communications with each of the plurality of sensors and each of the plurality of stimulators, wherein the magnetic field sensor is adapted to transmit data corresponding to the sensed magnetic field for reception by the system control unit, and wherein responsive to the data received, the system control unit transmits a stimulation command to at least one of the plurality of stimulators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for electrically stimulating a plurality of muscles in a human leg, wherein at least one stimulator being implanted in each of the gluteus maximus, quadriceps and hamstring muscles, said method adapted for use with a reciprocating leg exercise device, said device having a footrest, comprising the steps of:
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determining an interior knee angle of a leg with the foot of such leg on the footrest;
stimulating at least one of the gluteus maximus, quadriceps and hamstring muscles as a function of the determined interior knee angle; and
repeating the steps of determining and stimulating for moving the leg in a reciprocating motion. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification