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Balanced ankle flexion using FES electrode array
Student(en):

 Betreuer:

Nguyen Robert, Micera Silvestro
Beschreibung:

Introduction

Spinal cord injury and stroke often lead to at least partial paralysis of skeletal muscles. These paretic muscles can be contracted exogenously by applying electric current to them through electrodes placed on the skin. Eliciting such muscle contractions to produce functional movement, such as grasping and walking, is known as transcutaneous functional electrical stimulation (FES). FES has been successfully used with paretic individuals to regain functional ability. However, one limitation is lack of muscle selectivity caused by the spread of electric current to motor neurons that contract others muscles that interfere with the intended contraction.

Electrode arrays have recently been used to address the current limitations of FES. The advent of conductive textiles has allowed the fabrication of easy to use electrode arrays that consist of many small electrodes spaced closely together. Although better selectivity has been demonstrated using electrode arrays, lacking are systematic methodologies to optimize the stimulation timing and intensity of individual array elements to obtain balanced movement of joints.

Objectives

In this project, control techniques for activation of electrode arrays will be developed and validated in FES experiments with the forearm and legs. In particular, a technique to rapidly identify the stimulation intensity of individual electrode elements will be investigated. The results of this project will be integrated into a bigger project in the framework of FES rehabilitation.

Weitere Informationen 		Professor:

Manfred Morari
Projektcharakteristik:

Typ:
Art der Arbeit:
  • 30% Development
  • 30% Theory
  • 40% Experimentation

Voraussetzungen:
  • Completed courses in control theory (e.g., Regelsystem I)
  • Ability to implement algorithms in a programming environment such as MATLAB or LabVIEW
  • At least basic understanding of neuromuscular physiology
  • Independent, creative and self disciplined.
  • Professional when interacting with clinicians and patients.
Anzahl StudentInnen: 1
Status: open
Projektstart: Spring Semester 2013
Semester: Spring Semester 2013