SINGLE CHANNEL HYBRID FES GAIT SYSTEM

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的长期目标是为脊髓损伤所致截瘫患者开发一种活动辅助装置，该装置将功能性电刺激（FES）与独特的储能矫形器（ESO）相结合。ESO从受刺激的四头肌捕获能量，并将能量输送到其他关节，以控制移动性。ESO方法相对于现有混合FES系统的主要创新在于，它仅使用单个刺激通道，这将积极地影响用户的易用性和接受度。恢复甚至原始步态是重要的许多人与截瘫。虽然轮椅提供功能性的日常移动性，但仍然需要使人们能够在轮椅附近站立和行走的辅助设备。FES用于移动性的研究已经超过40年，但由于疲劳、控制和易用性的限制，对大多数人来说仍然不是一个可行的选择。ESO是一种新的方法，旨在解决所有三个限制，通过使用每一侧的单一表面刺激通道来驱动多个关节和一个可以控制的矫形器，并可以提供反重力支持，以减少刺激的肌肉疲劳。由于ESO方法是新的，在进行临床疗效证明之前必须证明技术可行性。因此，本项目的目的是证明可行性，有两个目标。目标1是设计和原型ESO硬件，软件和控制系统，并进行台架测试，以评估其工程规格。目标1是设计驱动的，其成功的结果将通过展示一个工作原型来标志。目的2是在研究实验室中使用两名截瘫受试者评估原型。驱动目标2的假设是，两个ESO用户将实现与现有FES辅助步态解决方案相同或更好的步态，包括将FES与矫形器相结合的现有混合FES步态系统。将通过将两个受试者的行走度量与现有技术系统的公开度量进行比较来进行比较。许多因脊髓损伤而瘫痪的人都希望根据自己的意愿站立和行走，即使由此产生的移动性是原始的并且在轮椅附近。所提出的FES辅助步态的方法是新的，可以为更广泛的SCI患者提供选择，而不是目前的解决方案。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term objective of this research is to develop a mobility aid for persons with paraplegia caused by spinal cord injury that combines functional electrical stimulation (FES) with a unique, energy storing orthosis (ESO). The ESO captures energy from the stimulated quadriceps and pipes the energy to other joints for controlled mobility. The main innovation of the ESO approach over prior hybrid FES systems is that it uses only a single channel of stimulation which should positively impact ease of use and acceptance by users. Restoration of even primitive gait is important to many individuals with paraplegia. While wheelchairs provide functional, daily mobility, there remains a need for assistive aids that enable people to stand and walk in the vicinity of a wheelchair. FES for mobility has been researched for over 40 years yet still is not a feasible option for most because of limitations of fatigue, control and ease of use. The ESO is a new approach designed to address all three limitations by using a single channel of surface stimulation on each side to drive multiple joints and an orthosis that can be controlled and can provide anti-gravity support to reduce stimulated muscle fatigue. Because the ESO approach is new, technical feasibility must be demonstrated before undertaking a demonstration of clinical efficacy. Therefore, the objective of this project is to prove feasibility with two aims. Aim 1 is to design and prototype the ESO hardware, software and control system and to conduct bench tests to evaluate its engineering specifications. Aim 1 is design driven and its successful outcome will be marked by demonstrating a working prototype. Aim 2 is to evaluate the prototype in the research laboratory using two human subjects with paraplegia. The hypothesis driving Aim 2 is that the two ESO users will achieve gait that is the same or better than gait with existing FES-aided gait solutions, including existing hybrid FES gait system that combine FES with an orthosis. Comparisons will be done by comparing walking metrics for the two subjects to published metrics for prior art systems. Many people who are paralyzed because of spinal cord injury have a desire to stand and walk under their own volition, even if the resulting mobility is primitive and within the vicinity of a wheelchair. The proposed approach for FES-aided gait is new and may provide choices for a wider pool of people with SCI than current solutions.