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导致的截瘫患者开发一种活动辅助设备，该设备结合了功能性电刺激（FES）和独特的储能矫形器（ESO）。ESO从受刺激的股四头肌中捕获能量，并将能量输送到其他关节以控制活动。与之前的混合FES系统相比，ESO方法的主要创新之处在于，它只使用单一的增产通道，这将对用户的易用性和接受度产生积极的影响。恢复甚至原始的步态对许多截瘫患者是重要的。虽然轮椅提供了功能性的日常行动能力，但仍然需要辅助设备，使人们能够在轮椅附近站立和行走。用于移动的FES已经研究了40多年，但由于疲劳、控制和易用性的限制，对于大多数人来说，FES仍然不是一个可行的选择。ESO是一种旨在解决这三个限制的新方法，通过在每一侧使用单个表面刺激通道来驱动多个关节，以及一个可控制的矫形器，可以提供反重力支持，以减少受刺激的肌肉疲劳。由于ESO方法是一种新方法，在进行临床疗效证明之前，必须先证明技术可行性。因此，这个项目的目的是证明可行性，有两个目的。目标1是设计和制作ESO硬件、软件和控制系统的原型，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。目的二是在研究实验室中使用两名截瘫患者来评估原型。驱动Aim 2的假设是，两个ESO用户将获得与现有FES辅助步态解决方案相同或更好的步态，包括现有的将FES与矫形器相结合的混合FES步态系统。将通过比较两个主体的行走指标与现有技术系统的已发布指标来进行比较。许多因脊髓损伤而瘫痪的人都希望能够根据自己的意志站立和行走，即使由此产生的行动能力很原始，并且在轮椅附近。fes辅助步态的建议方法是新的，可以为更广泛的脊髓损伤患者提供选择，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.