title: The Vienna functional electrical stimulation system for restoration of walking functions in spastic paraplegia.
abstract: An eight-channel stimulation system, currently intended for stimulation of lower extremities, was developed and is introduced. The major development goals were easy handling, modularity to make the system easily adaptable for other functional electrical stimulation (FES) applications, and a wide stimulation parameter range for application-specific parameter optimization. For paraplegic stepping, the system worn by the patient consists of 2 four-channel stimulation modules, a central unit holding the battery and circuitry for power management and communication control, a wireless remote control unit, and a palmtop computer as the main control and input device. A software package for Microsoft Windows supports the design and optimization of stimulation sequences in the rehabilitation center. First tests with patients familiar with FES showed smoother movements during stepping and acceptable good handling. In combination with the PC software, the required stimulation sequences could be created in a very short time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, University of Vienna, Austria. m.bijak@bmtp.akh-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bijak
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mayr
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rakos
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lanmüller
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rafolt
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reichel
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sauermann
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmutterer
authors.forename: Ewald
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Russold
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D003199:Computer Systems; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012984:Software; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016138:Walking