| 摘要 |
The system of the present invention is a stimulation system (100) for providing upper-motor-neuron paralyzed patients with capabilities of unbraced standing and unbraced walking, which consists of a single pulse power and amplifier (103) that outputs various trains of stimulation pulses and which is totally under microprocessor (104) generation and control, where the microprocessor's microcomputer selectively performs multiplexing of the pulse trains and their selective alternate distribution to the various surface electrodes attached to the skin of the patient at the appropriate stimulation locations. It also controls pulse-width, pulse-duration, pulse-amplitude and pulse-shape. Furthermore, the system can compute and activate (audible and/or visual) warning signals to warn the patient when the system is close to its maximal output. This would happen when muscle fatigue is such that no further increase in stimuli level can keep the patient upright. The system computes and outputs indications of the various stimuli levels to a visual display, and it provides automatic fail-safe and override capabilities to help ensure that the patient does not fall in case of major circuit or system failure or misactivation. This is a critical capability since this system will be used by paraplegics who lack sensation in their lower extremities. |
