A review of portable FES-based neural orthoses for the correction of drop foot

• Published in: IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 260 - 279
• Main Authors: Lyons, G.M., Sinkjaer, T., Burridge, J.H., Wilcox, D.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01-12-2002
• Subjects: Brain injuries; Control systems; Electric Stimulation Therapy - instrumentation; Electric Stimulation Therapy - methods; Electric Stimulation Therapy - trends; Electrodes, Implanted; Equipment Design; Foot; Foot - innervation; Foot - physiopathology; Gait Disorders, Neurologic - physiopathology; Gait Disorders, Neurologic - rehabilitation; Humans; Microelectrodes; Miniaturization; Multiple sclerosis; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Muscles; Neuromuscular stimulation; Orthotic Devices; Orthotics; Paper technology; Pathology; Peroneal Nerve - physiopathology; Real time systems; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation; Transducers
• ISSN: 1534-4320
• DOI: 10.1109/TNSRE.2002.806832

Reviews the technological developments in neural orthoses for the correction of upper motor neurone drop foot since 1961, when the technique was first proposed by Liberson and his co-workers. Drop foot stimulator (DFS) developments are reviewed starting with hard-wired single-channel and multichannel surface functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems, followed by implanted drop foot stimulators, and then continuing with microprocessor-based surface and implanted drop foot stimulators. The review examines the role of artificial and "natural" sensors as replacements for the foot-switch as the primary control sensor in drop foot stimulators. DFS systems incorporating real-time control of FES and completely implanted DFS systems finish the review.