Encoder-Controlled Stimulation System for Assisting Elbow Extension in Post-Stroke Individuals: a Pilot Study

摘要

Stroke refers to a major cause of disability among adults. The consequences of a stroke directly reduce the patient's quality of life. Most of the stroke patients require special training to restore their motor skills and minimize disability. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is promising technology for the recovery of upper extremity function in stroke patients. Controlling the stimulation parameters of the FES system requires the reliable record of the elbow position. In this study, we designed a FES-assistive device triggered by the electrical signal of the elbow-placed Hall-effect rotary encoder. The microcontroller-based prototype generates biphasic pulse sequences by measuring the elbow joint angle of the affected arm from the embedded encoder and allows the adjustment of the stimulus timing parameters. The device is portable and powered by a stand-alone battery. Preliminary tests with healthy participants showed satisfactory functionality of the system. The design may facilitate the rehabilitation of post-stroke individuals for advancing their movement performance.