The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for neuromuscular stimulation which is useful for stimulation of weak muscles in general, in sports clinical mode for muscle growth and endurance and in clinical mode for muscular rehabilitation. EMG signals are received from the subject adjacent a muscle whose contraction is to be stimulated. A succession of stimulation (STIM) pulses are supplied to the muscle to be stimulated. The EMG-receiving module is operated during quiescent periods between successive pulses, and the amplitude of stimulation pulses supplied to the subject in the succession is modulated proportionately depending on the a detected voluntary component of the received EMG signals. Modulation is in real time during supply of stimulation pulses whereby the subject is given a sensation of natural muscle control and/or the possibility for greater precision of neuromuscular control.

A non-contact muscle signal sensing and assisting device, comprises a radar sensing module, a microprocessor and an electrical stimulation module. The radar sensing module continuously transmits a first microwave signal to a muscle bundle part and receives a corresponding reflected muscle signal, and performs a demodulation procedure on a second microwave signal and the reflected muscle signal to obtain and output a demodulated muscle signal. The microprocessor performs a muscle-movement signal characteristic processing procedure on the demodulated muscle signal to obtain a characterized muscle signal. The microprocessor obtains a muscle movement parameter according to the characterized muscle signal and controls the electrical stimulation module to emit a micro electrical stimulation signal to stimulate a reflex nerve when the muscle movement parameter fits an assistive condition, thereby stimulate muscle movement.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for real-time gait modulation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a functional electrical stimulation (FES) device is disclosed comprising one or more elastic wearable articles, a control unit comprising a wireless communication module, one or more processors, one or more memory units, a portable power supply, an electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) generator, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) comprising at least a gyroscope and an accelerometer. The FES device can also comprise one or more electrode arrays configured to be in physical contact with the limb of the user. The processors can be programmed to execute instructions to retrieve readings from the IMU, calculate a gait cycle percentage by inputting at least the IMU readings into a machine learning algorithm, and instruct the EMS generator to provide electrical stimulation via the one or more electrode arrays based in part on the gait cycle percentage calculated.

A device for influencing a patient's gait, comprising at least one foot lifter stimulation electrode for activating a foot lifter muscle, at least one sensor unit, at least one hip flexor stimulation electrode for activating a hip flexor muscle, and at least one control unit which is coupled to the sensor unit and the stimulation electrodes, processes sensor values from the sensor unit and, depending on the sensor values, activates at least one of the stimulation electrodes.

At least one electrical brain signal is received from a patient and is demultiplexed into an efferent motor intention signal and at least one afferent sensory signal (such as an afferent touch sense signal and/or an afferent proprioception signal). A functional electrical stimulation (FES) device is controlled to apply FES to control a paralyzed portion of the patient that is paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury of the patient. The controlling of the FES device is based on at least the efferent motor intention signal. A demultiplexed afferent touch sense signal may be used to control a haptic device. The afferent sensory signal(s) may be used to adjust the FES control.

This disclosure describes various aspects of a unique therapeutic does for an NMES system. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more electrodes and one or more controls that execute a therapy session program. The therapy session program causes the controller to implement a pulse to the one or more electrodes that, when viewed on a graph of amplitude vs. time, create a “chair” shape with an exponentially decreasing amplitude. In some embodiments, the pulse is considerably longer (e.g., 5 ms) than those implemented in the past (e.g., 300 μs). In some embodiments, the pulse is held at a non-zero amplitude after an exponential decrease for a period of time before a non-electrical relaxation time period is implemented by the one or more controllers.

A delivery system is disclosed having an implant retainer configured to releasably hold an implant unit and maintain the implant unit in a fixation location relative to target tissue in a subject's body during an implantation procedure. A first suture guide portion may be disposed on a first side of the implant retainer and configured to guide a suture needle during the implantation procedure. A second suture guide portion may be disposed on a second side of the implant retainer, opposite the first side, and configured to guide the suture needle after the suture needle exits the first suture guide portion.

An implant unit configured for implantation into a body of a subject is provided. The implant unit may include a flexible carrier unit including a central portion and two elongated arms extending from the central portion, an antenna, located on the central portion, configured to receive a signal, at least one pair of electrodes arranged on a first elongated arm of the two elongated arms. The at least one pair of electrodes may be adapted to modulate a first nerve. The elongated arms of the flexible carrier may be configured to form an open ended curvature around a muscle with the nerve to be stimulated within an arc of the curvature.

A trunk exoskeleton is provided including a flexible corset configured to wrap around a user's torso in the lumbar spine region. The flexible corset includes a plurality of vertical pockets formed around its perimeter. A plurality of flexor columns are included, each of which positioned in one of the plurality of vertical pockets. The flexor columns generate a flexor righting torque when bent from a vertical orientation. The multiple flexor righting torques from each of the plurality of flexor columns combine to generate a combined flexor righting torque. The combined flexor righting torque comprises a portion of a user trunk torque when the user's torso is angled from vertical.

Systems, devices, and methods for stimulating peripheral nerves in the fingers or hand to treat tremor are described. For example, a wearable ring device for delivering electrical stimulation to sensory nerves in a patient's finger can include an annular ring having a plurality of electrodes and a detachable unit having a power source and a pulse generator.