title: A multi-channel biomimetic neuroprosthesis to support treadmill gait training in stroke patients.
abstract: This study presents an innovative multi-channel neuroprosthesis that induces a biomimetic activation of the main lower-limb muscles during treadmill gait training to be used in the rehabilitation of stroke patients. The electrostimulation strategy replicates the physiological muscle synergies used by healthy subjects to walk on a treadmill at their self-selected speed. This strategy is mapped to the current gait sub-phases, which are identified in real time by a custom algorithm. This algorithm divides the gait cycle into six sub-phases, based on two inertial sensors placed laterally on the shanks. Therefore, the pre-defined stimulation profiles are expanded or stretched based on the actual gait pattern of each single subject. A preliminary experimental protocol, involving 10 healthy volunteers, was carried out to extract the muscle synergies and validate the gait-detection algorithm, which were afterwards used in the development of the neuroprosthesis. The feasibility of the neuroprosthesis was tested on one healthy subject who simulated different gait patterns, and a chronic stroke patient. The results showed the correct functioning of the system. A pilot study of the neurorehabilitation treatment for stroke patients is currently being carried out.
authors.forename: Noelia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baccinelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nardone
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monticone
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrigno
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedrocchi
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrante
mesh_terms: D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D058117:Neural Prostheses; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation