Functional electrical stimulation device and system, and use thereof

摘要

Disclosed herein is a functional electrical stimulation (FES) device and system. In one embodiment, sequential bipolar pulse stimulation may be provided to an area of a living body via one or more electrode leads applied to the area via a FES device comprising a current pulse generating circuit comprising output nodes for operative coupling to the one or more electrode leads, and configured for operative coupling to a voltage supply. The current pulse generating circuit generally comprises positive and negative stimulation paths drawing from the voltage supply to respectively apply positive and negative currents through the area via the one or more electrode leads. In one example, the stimulation paths comprise respective capacitive elements, a capacitance ratio of which dictating, at least in part, an amplitude ratio of the positive and negative currents, wherein periodic alternative activation of the stimulation paths provides the sequential bipolar pulse stimulation. In another example, each path comprises a respective charging element and a respective activation switch, wherein each respective charging element is charged by the voltage supply and discharged upon activation of the respective activation switch to generate positive and negative current pulses respectively, such that a pulse rise time of the positive and negative current pulses is predominantly dictated by a switching speed of each respective switch. Systems and uses for these devices, and FES in general, are also described.

主权项

1. A functional electrical stimulation (FES) system for providing current pulse stimulation to an area of a living body via one or more electrodes applied to the area, comprising:
a control platform having one or more inputs for receiving FES parameters representative of selected current pulse characteristics to be applied to the area; an output stage operatively coupled to said control platform for generating current pulses in accordance with said characteristics, said output stage comprising: a power supply; a pulse generating circuit operatively coupled to said power supply to draw a current therefrom; said pulse generating circuit comprising positive and negative stimulation paths drawing from said power supply to respectively apply positive and negative currents through the area, said stimulation paths comprising respective capacitive elements, wherein periodic alternative activation of said stimulation paths by said controller provides sequential bipolar pulse stimulation; and one or more controllers operatively coupled to said power supply and said pulse generating circuit, said one or more controllers configured to control operation of said pulse generating circuit to generate said current pulses in accordance with said characteristics wherein a rise time of said current pulses is fast enough to reduce or minimize pain perception or physical discomfort induced by said generated current pulses, and/or reduce or minimize tissue membrane accommodation in the area thereby increasing tissue action potential elicitation in the area, said stimulation paths comprising a positive stimulation loop and a negative stimulation loop, each one of which adapted to serially encompass the one or more electrodes, and comprising said respective capacitive elements and respective loop activation switches selectively operated by said one or more controllers, wherein a capacitance ratio of said capacitive elements dictates, at least in part, an amplitude ratio of said positive and negative currents, said one or more controllers further configured for selectively alternatively activating said loop activation switches to provide negative and positive current pulses, a duration ratio of which being inversely proportional to said capacitance ratio.