Assembly for functional electrical stimulation during movement
First Claim
1. A functional electrical stimulator for use on a body limb, comprising:
- a band, mountable on the limb, for carrying stimulator components;
cathode and anode electrodes carried by the band in a fixed condition;
means, carried by the band, for reproducibly positioning the band so that the electrodes are located at specified stimulation locations;
sensor means, carried by the band in a fixed condition, for measuring the angular position of the limb during movement and emitting sensor signals indicative thereof;
control circuit means, carried by the band and connected with the sensor means and electrodes, for receiving the sensor signals, processing the sensor signals to establish values indicative of the changing angularity of the limb as a function of time and to compare the established values with predetermined adjustable angular ON and OFF and time threshold values for initiating and terminating the emission of pulses through the electrodes when the established values reach the angular ON and OFF and time threshold values, to stimulate the limb; and
battery means carried by the band and connected with the sensor means and control circuit means, for supplying electrical power to them.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The assembly comprises a band, mountable on the leg, carrying all of the components of the assembly to provide a self-contained unit. The components comprise: electrodes for stimulating a leg nerve; a V-shaped plate for conforming with the leg'"'"'s tibia to reproducibly position the band so that the electrodes are located over the nerve; a tilt sensor for measuring the angular position of the lower leg; a control circuit for processing the sensor signal information and emitting pulses through the electrodes to stimulate the leg in response to phases of body movement; and a battery for supplying power to the tilt sensor, control circuit and stimulator. By comparing the assembly'"'"'s stimulation states against a known template defining optimal stimulation states, stimulation threshold parameters can be fine tuned without the need for repeated trial and error testing by the user.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A functional electrical stimulator for use on a body limb, comprising:
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a band, mountable on the limb, for carrying stimulator components; cathode and anode electrodes carried by the band in a fixed condition; means, carried by the band, for reproducibly positioning the band so that the electrodes are located at specified stimulation locations; sensor means, carried by the band in a fixed condition, for measuring the angular position of the limb during movement and emitting sensor signals indicative thereof; control circuit means, carried by the band and connected with the sensor means and electrodes, for receiving the sensor signals, processing the sensor signals to establish values indicative of the changing angularity of the limb as a function of time and to compare the established values with predetermined adjustable angular ON and OFF and time threshold values for initiating and terminating the emission of pulses through the electrodes when the established values reach the angular ON and OFF and time threshold values, to stimulate the limb; and battery means carried by the band and connected with the sensor means and control circuit means, for supplying electrical power to them. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A functional electrical stimulator for use on a body limb, comprising:
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a band, mountable on the limb, for carrying stimulator components; cathode and anode electrodes carried by the band in a fixed condition; means, carried by the band, for reproducibly positioning the band so that the electrodes are located at specified stimulation locations; sensor means, carried by the band in a fixed condition, for measuring the angular position of the limb during movement and emitting sensor signals indicative thereof; control circuit means, carried by the band and connected with the sensor means and electrodes, for receiving the sensor signals and processing the sensor signals to establish values indicative of the changing angularity of the limb, comparing the established values with predetermined adjustable ON and OFF threshold values and initiating the emission of pulses through the electrodes when the established values reach the ON threshold values to stimulate the limb, terminating the emission of pulses through the electrodes when the established values reach the OFF threshold values, measuring stimulation-ON elapsed time which is initiated when the limb is stimulated, comparing the stimulation-ON elapsed time with a predetermined maximum time and terminating the emission of pulses through the electrodes after said pre-determined maximum time, even if the sensor signal values have not reached the OFF threshold value; and battery means, carried by the band and connected with the sensor means and control circuit means, for supplying electrical power to them. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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Specification