Customized Electrical Stimulation for SCI Rehabilitation

描述(申请人提供)：脊髓损伤患者的运动可以增强身体健康，减缓脊髓损伤的继发性并发症。不幸的是，现有的运动器材价格昂贵，而且效益微乎其微。在这个第二阶段的项目中，我们将继续为脊髓损伤患者开发和评估一个锻炼系统，寻求改善他们的身体健康和/或使用功能强大的站立电刺激系统。 该设备使用电刺激下肢肌肉来产生髋关节/膝盖弯曲的耦合运动，从而使上半身在重力的作用下移动。它提供了以一种方式进行力量和耐力训练的能力，这种方式提供了对下肢进行分级负荷的能力。它由机械框架和一个带有自适应控制器的多通道刺激器组成，以产生所需的运动和GRF轮廓。 第一阶段的项目通过开发原型，在患有SCL的人体受试者身上进行评估，并确定其局限性，证明了其可行性。第二阶段的目标是通过以下方式走向第一阶段的商业化：1.设计和开发一种改进的设备；2.评估在临床环境中提供实质性运动益处的能力；3.表征运动的生物力学特性；以及4.将该设备与植入式电刺激系统接口。3.确定运动的生物力学特性；以及4.将该设备与植入的电刺激系统接口。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Exercise for people with SCI can enhance physical fitness and slow secondary complications of SCI. Unfortunately, available exercise equipment is expensive and provides marginal benefits. In this Phase II project, we will continue to develop and evaluate an exercise system for individuals with SCI seeking to improve their physical fitness and/or enable use of a functional electrical stimulation system for standing. The device uses electrical stimulation of lower-extremity musculature to generate a coupled hip/knee bending motion that moves the upper body against gravity. It provides the ability to perform strength and endurance training exercises in a manner that provides graded loading of the lower extremities. It consists of mechanical frame and a multi-channel stimulator with an adaptive controller to generate the desired movement and GRF profiles. The Phase I project demonstrated feasibility by developing a prototype, evaluating it in experiments on human subjects with SCl, and identifying its limitations.The Phase II goals are to move towards Phase Ill commercialization by:1. Designing and developing an improved device; 2. Evaluating the ability to provide substantial exercise benefits in a clinical setting; 3. Characterizing the biomechanics of the exercise; and 4. Interfacing the device with an implanted electrical stimulation system. 3. characterizing the biomechanics of the exercise; and 4. interfacing the device with an implanted electrical stimulation system.