Abstract: A functional electrical stimulation (FES) device includes electrodes arranged to apply functional electrical stimulation to a body part of the user. FES stimulation is performed by: receiving values of a set of user metrics for the user; receiving a target position of the body part represented as values for a set of body part position measurements; determining a user-specific energization pattern for producing the target position based on the received target position and the received values of the set of user metrics for the user; and energizing the electrodes of the FES device in accordance with the determined user-specific energization pattern. The determination may utilize an FES calibration database with records having fields containing: values of the set of user metrics for reference users; energization patterns; and values of the set of body part position metrics for positions assumed by the body part in response to applying the energization patterns.

Abstract: An electronic garment includes an elastic textile garment configured to be worn on anatomy of an associated wearer. The elastic textile garment has an inner surface arranged to contact the anatomy when the elastic textile garment is worn on the anatomy. Electrodes are secured to the inner surface of the elastic textile garment. Each electrode includes at least an exposed portion of an insulated electrically conductive thread that is sewn onto or into the elastic textile garment. An electrically conductive polymer electrode material, such as a mixed ionic-electronic conducting (MIEC) material, is arranged to contact the electrodes, for example as an inner compression sleeve liner coated or infused with the MIEC material. The elastic textile garment and the electrically conductive threads may be formed together by three-dimensional (3D) knitting. A scent may be added to the elastic textile garment.

Abstract: A functional electrical stimulation (FES) device includes electrodes arranged to apply functional electrical stimulation to a body part of the user. FES stimulation is performed by: receiving values of a set of user metrics for the user; receiving a target position of the body part represented as values for a set of body part position measurements; determining a user-specific energization pattern for producing the target position based on the received target position and the received values of the set of user metrics for the user; and energizing the electrodes of the FES device in accordance with the determined user-specific energization pattern. The determination may utilize an FES calibration database with records having fields containing: values of the set of user metrics for reference users; energization patterns; and values of the set of body part position metrics for positions assumed by the body part in response to applying the energization patterns.

Abstract: A portable and wearable hand-grasp neuro-orthosis is configured for use in a home environment to restore volitionally controlled grasp functions for a subject with a cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). The neuro-orthosis may include: a wearable sleeve with electrodes; electronics for operating the wearable sleeve to perform functional electrical stimulation (FES) and electromyography (EMG), the electronics configured for mounting on a wheelchair; and a controller configured for mounting on a wheelchair. The controller controls the electronics to read EMG via the sleeve, decode the read EMG to determine an intent of the user, and operate the electronics to apply FES via the sleeve to implement the intent of the user. The neuro-orthosis may restore hand function. The controller may include a display arranged to be viewed by the subject, for example mounted on an articulated arm attached to the wheelchair.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a variety of devices, systems, and methods of utilizing mixed-ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) materials which are adapted to function with an applied current or potential. The materials, as part of a circuit, can placed in contact with a part of a human or nonhuman animal body.

Abstract: An activity assistance system includes a video camera arranged to acquire video of a person performing an activity, an output device configured to output human-perceptible prompts, and an electronic processor programmed to execute an activity script. The script comprises a sequence of steps choreographing the activity. The execution of each step includes presenting a prompt via the output device and detecting an event or sequence of events subsequent to the presenting of the prompt. Each event is detected by performing object detection on the video to detect one or more objects depicted in the video and applying one or more object-oriented image analysis functions to detect a spatial or temporal arrangement of one or more of the detected objects. Each event detection triggers an action comprising at least one of presenting a prompt via the output device and and/or going to another step of the activity script.

Abstract: A portable and wearable hand-grasp neuro-orthosis is configured for use in a home environment to restore volitionally controlled grasp functions for a subject with a cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). The neuro-orthosis may include: a wearable sleeve with electrodes; electronics for operating the wearable sleeve to perform functional electrical stimulation (FES) and electromyography (EMG), the electronics configured for mounting on a wheelchair; and a controller configured for mounting on a wheelchair. The controller controls the electronics to read EMG via the sleeve, decode the read EMG to determine an intent of the user, and operate the electronics to apply FES via the sleeve to implement the intent of the user. The neuro-orthosis may restore hand function. The controller may include a display arranged to be viewed by the subject, for example mounted on an articulated arm attached to the wheelchair.

Abstract: A device for functional electrical stimulation (FES), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), and/or in receiving electromyography (EMG) signals includes a sleeve and electrodes. The sleeve is sized and shaped to be worn on a human arm, and comprises a stretchable fabric The electrodes are secured with the sleeve and positioned to contact skin of the human arm when the sleeve is worn on the human arm. An electronic circuit is configured to operate the electrodes. The electronic circuit includes relays connecting the electrodes with a stimulator for performing FES or NMES, and EMG readout circuitry connecting the electrodes with an EMG amplifier. The relays are closed during FES or NMES to connect the stimulator with the electrodes. The relays are open during EMG readout to isolate the stimulator from the EMG amplifier.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A device is provided for delivering somatosensation. A garment is wearable on a body part, and includes an array of electrodes in electrical contact with skin of the body part when the garment is worn on the body part. An electronics module is configured to use the array of electrodes of the garment to apply a somatosensation pattern providing guidance in performing a motor action, or providing a pain sensation to the wearer.

Abstract: A device for functional electrical stimulation (FES), neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), and/or in receiving electromyography (EMG) signals includes a sleeve and electrodes. The sleeve is sized and shaped to be worn on a human arm, and comprises a stretchable fabric The sleeve has a distal end disposed on or adjacent a wrist of the human arm when the sleeve is worn on the human arm and a proximal end opposite from the distal end. The electrodes are secured with the sleeve and positioned to contact skin of the human arm when the sleeve is worn on the human arm. The sleeve may include an inner sleeve contact with the skin and an outer sleeve disposed over the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve has openings in which the electrodes are disposed.

Abstract: Aiming assistance is provided for assisting a user in aiming a ranged weapon at a target. The aiming assistance includes receiving telemetry information from one or more sensors, and determining an aim error based on the telemetry information. The aim error indicates of an error between a trajectory of the ranged weapon and an on target trajectory from the ranged weapon to the target. A somatosensation is provided to the user which is indicative of the aim error. This is done by operating haptic devices of a garment worn on an arm or wrist of the user to apply haptic sensation to skin of the arm or wrist. The haptic devices may be electrodes and the applied haptic sensation comprises transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation (TENS), or the haptic devices may be vibrators.

Abstract: A method of treating spasticity uses a garment worn on a target anatomy so as to arrange electrodes on an inner surface of the garment contacting the skin of the target anatomy. Using an electronic processor, a spasticity treatment cycle is performed. The spasticity treatment cycle is initiated by providing a human-perceptible prompt to initiate a spastic event, or by triggering the spastic event by applying electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the target anatomy using the electrodes. Thereafter, electromyography (EMG) signals are measured from the target anatomy using the electrodes. One or more spasm regions in the target anatomy are identified based on the EMG signals. Targeted treatment of the one or more spasm regions is performed using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), or is directed to be performed by displaying a representation of the target anatomy with the one or more spasm regions indicated on the representation.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In rehabilitation, a stimulation pattern when applied to a body part by a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) device is effective to cause the body part to perform an intended action. The applying includes increasing a stimulation level at which the stimulation pattern is applied over time and, during the applying, acquiring video of the body part. The body part is monitored during the applying by analysis of the video, and the applying is automatically stopped in response to the monitoring indicating the body part has performed the intended action. The stimulation pattern may be defined as one or more subsets of electrodes of the NMES device and an electrode group stimulation level for each respective subset of electrodes, and the increasing of the stimulation level comprises increasing a scaling factor applied to the electrode group stimulation levels over time.

Abstract: A therapeutic or diagnostic device comprises a wearable electrodes garment including electrodes disposed to contact skin when the wearable electrodes garment is worn, and an electronic controller operatively connected with the electrodes. The electronic controller is programmed to perform a method including: receiving surface electromyography (EMG) signals via the electrodes and extracting one or more motor unit (MU) action potentials from the surface EMG signals. The method may further include identifying an intended movement based at least on features representing the one or more extracted MU action potentials and delivering functional electrical stimulation (FES) effective to implement the intended movement via the electrodes of the wearable electrodes garment.

Abstract: An assistance method for assisting a person in grasping or otherwise manipulating an object includes receiving video of a hand of the person and of an object. An intent to grasp the object is identified based on proximity of the hand to the object in the video or as measured by a proximity sensor, or using gaze tracking, or based on measured neural activity of the person. The object and the hand in the video are analyzed to determine an object grasping action for grasping or otherwise manipulating the object. An actuator is controlled to cause the hand to perform the determined hand action for grasping or otherwise manipulating the object.

Abstract: A functional electrical stimulation (FES) device includes electrodes arranged to apply functional electrical stimulation to a body part of the user. FES stimulation is performed by: receiving values of a set of user metrics for the user; receiving a target position of the body part represented as values for a set of body part position measurements; determining a user-specific energization pattern for producing the target position based on the received target position and the received values of the set of user metrics for the user; and energizing the electrodes of the FES device in accordance with the determined user-specific energization pattern. The determination may utilize an FES calibration database with records having fields containing: values of the set of user metrics for reference users; energization patterns; and values of the set of body part position metrics for positions assumed by the body part in response to applying the energization patterns.

Abstract: A therapeutic or diagnostic device comprises a wearable electrodes garment including electrodes disposed to contact skin when the wearable electrodes garment is worn, and an electronic controller operatively connected with the electrodes. The electronic controller is programmed to perform a method including: receiving surface electromyography (EMG) signals via the electrodes and extracting one or more motor unit (MU) action potentials from the surface EMG signals. The method may further include identifying an intended movement based at least on features representing the one or more extracted MU action potentials and delivering functional electrical stimulation (FES) effective to implement the intended movement via the electrodes of the wearable electrodes garment.

Abstract: A functional electrical stimulation (FES) device includes electrodes arranged to apply functional electrical stimulation to a body part of the user. FES stimulation is performed by: receiving values of a set of user metrics for the user; receiving a target position of the body part represented as values for a set of body part position measurements; determining a user-specific energization pattern for producing the target position based on the received target position and the received values of the set of user metrics for the user; and energizing the electrodes of the FES device in accordance with the determined user-specific energization pattern. The determination may utilize an FES calibration database with records having fields containing: values of the set of user metrics for reference users; energization patterns; and values of the set of body part position metrics for positions assumed by the body part in response to applying the energization patterns.