Systems and apparatus for gait modulation and methods of use
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a frame assembly configured to be removably coupled to a portion of a limb such that the portion of the limb is substantially enveloped by the frame;
a sensor coupled to the frame, the sensor including one of a tilt sensor, an accelerometer or a gyroscope, the sensor configured to produce a first signal and a second signal, the first signal associated with a gait characteristic at a first time, the second signal associated with the gait characteristic at a second time, after the first time, the first time and the second time defining a time period therebetween; and
an electric stimulator removably coupled to the frame assembly and in electrical communication with the sensor and an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a first set of electrodes configured to be in electrical communication with a first portion of a neuromuscular system of the limb, the electrode assembly including a second set of electrodes configured to be in electrical communication with a second portion of the neuromuscular system of the limb, the electric stimulator configured to receive the first signal from the sensor at the first time and the second signal from the sensor at the second time;
the electric stimulator configured to send a third signal to the electrode assembly at the first time, the third signal based at least in part on the first signal associated with the gait characteristic at the first time, the third signal operable to cause the first set of electrodes of the electrode assembly to provide an electrical stimulation having a first voltage to the first portion of the neuromuscular system of the limb resulting in dorsiflexion of a foot of the limb and to cause the second set of electrodes of the electrode assembly to provide an electrical stimulation having a second voltage, different from the first voltage, to the second portion of the neuromuscular system during the time period resulting in plantarflexion of the foot of the limb.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes a frame, a sensor, and an electric stimulator. The frame is removably couplable to a portion of a limb. The sensor is configured to produce a first signal associated with a gait characteristic at a first time, and a second signal associated with the gait characteristic at a second time, after the first time. The electric stimulator is removably coupled to the frame and is in electrical communication with an electrode assembly and the sensor to receive the first signal substantially at the first time and the second signal substantially at the second time. Based in part on the gait characteristic at the first time, the electric stimulator sends a third signal to the electrode assembly to provide an electric stimulation to a portion of a neuromuscular system of the limb substantially during a time period defined between the first time and the second time.
172 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a frame assembly configured to be removably coupled to a portion of a limb such that the portion of the limb is substantially enveloped by the frame; a sensor coupled to the frame, the sensor including one of a tilt sensor, an accelerometer or a gyroscope, the sensor configured to produce a first signal and a second signal, the first signal associated with a gait characteristic at a first time, the second signal associated with the gait characteristic at a second time, after the first time, the first time and the second time defining a time period therebetween; and an electric stimulator removably coupled to the frame assembly and in electrical communication with the sensor and an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a first set of electrodes configured to be in electrical communication with a first portion of a neuromuscular system of the limb, the electrode assembly including a second set of electrodes configured to be in electrical communication with a second portion of the neuromuscular system of the limb, the electric stimulator configured to receive the first signal from the sensor at the first time and the second signal from the sensor at the second time; the electric stimulator configured to send a third signal to the electrode assembly at the first time, the third signal based at least in part on the first signal associated with the gait characteristic at the first time, the third signal operable to cause the first set of electrodes of the electrode assembly to provide an electrical stimulation having a first voltage to the first portion of the neuromuscular system of the limb resulting in dorsiflexion of a foot of the limb and to cause the second set of electrodes of the electrode assembly to provide an electrical stimulation having a second voltage, different from the first voltage, to the second portion of the neuromuscular system during the time period resulting in plantarflexion of the foot of the limb. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22)
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13. An apparatus, comprising:
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a frame assembly configured to be removably coupled to a portion of a first limb such that the portion of the first limb is substantially enveloped by the frame assembly; an electric stimulator removably coupled to the frame assembly and in electrical communication with the electrode assembly, the electrode assembly configured to be in electrical communication with a portion of a neuromuscular system of the first limb; and a sensor physically distinct from and in wireless electrical communication with the electric stimulator, the sensor being associated with a second limb contralateral to the first limb, the sensor configured to produce a first signal and a second signal, the first signal associated with a gait characteristic at a first time, the second signal associated with the gait characteristic at a second time, after the first time, the first time and the second time defining a time period therebetween; the electric stimulator configured to receive the first signal from the sensor at the first time and the second signal from the sensor at the second time, the electric stimulator configured to send a third signal to the electrode assembly at the first time, the third signal based at least in part on the first signal and operable to cause the electrode assembly to provide an electrical stimulation to the portion of the neuromuscular system of the first limb during the time period resulting in at least one of dorsiflexion or plantarflexion of a foot of the first limb. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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23. An apparatus, comprising:
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a frame assembly configured to be removably coupled to a portion of a limb such that the portion of the limb is substantially enveloped by the frame; a first sensor coupled to the frame, the sensor including at least one of a tilt sensor, an accelerometer or a gyroscope, the first sensor configured to produce a first signal and a second signal, the first signal associated with a first gait characteristic at a first time, the second signal associated with the first gait characteristic at a second time, after the first time, the first time and the second time defining a time period therebetween; a second sensor configured to produce a third signal and a fourth signal, the third signal associated with a second gait characteristic at the first time, the fourth signal associated with the second gait characteristic at the second time; and an electric stimulator removably coupled to the frame assembly and in electrical communication with the first sensor, the second sensor and an electrode assembly, the second sensor being physically distinct from the electric stimulator, the electrode assembly configured to be in electrical communication with a portion of a neuromuscular system of the limb, the electric stimulator configured to receive, at the first time, the first signal from the first sensor and the third signal from the second sensor, the electric stimulator configured to receive, at the second time, the second signal from the first sensor and the fourth signal from the second sensor; the electric stimulator configured to send a fifth signal to the electrode assembly at the first time, the fifth signal based at least in part on the first gait characteristic at the first time and the second gait characteristic at the first time, the fifth signal operable to cause the electrode assembly to provide an electrical stimulation to the portion of the neuromuscular system of the limb during the time period such that the electrical stimulation has a first voltage during a first portion of the time period and a second voltage, different than the first voltage, during a second portion of the time period subsequent the first portion of the time period.
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Specification