Patents Assigned to N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20070112285
    Abstract: A foot sensor device and method for gait enhancement, the device including: (a) a sensor unit having a casing, the sensor unit for disposing within a shoe of a user, the sensor unit for sensing a parameter associated with a gait event; (b) an electronic communication unit, electrically associated with the sensor unit, for receiving a signal pertaining to the parameter, the electronic unit having,: (i) a microcontroller; (ii) a transmitting unit for transmitting, in a wireless fashion, gait information based on the signal, to a unit of an orthosis external to the foot sensor device, and (iii) a housing for housing at least one of the microcontroller and the transmitting unit, and (c) a fastening unit, attached to the housing, adapted to fasten on to the shoe, so as to secure the communication unit in a fixed position during gait
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Amit Dar, Jonathan Bar-Or
  • Publication number: 20070112394
    Abstract: A functional electrical stimulation (FES) orthosis for FES to a limb segment, including: (a) a semi-rigid, self-retaining C-shaped frame, the frame configured to substantially envelop the limb segment, the frame including a first flexible and elongated circumferentially retaining element and at least a first and a second opposing flexible and elongated circumferentially retaining elements disposed on the circumferentially opposite side of the frame, the first retaining element and the first opposing retaining element forming a pair of opposing retaining elements, and (b) a surface electrical stimulation electrode for contacting at least one stimulation point on a surface of the limb segment, associated with, and supported by, the frame, the surface electrode for electrically associating, via the frame, with a neuroprosthetic stimulator unit, so as to provide FES, wherein the opposing retaining elements are configured to be radially spring-loaded towards a center of the frame, such that in donning the orthosis
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Applicant: N.E.S.S. NEUROMUSCULAR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Roger Nathan, Amit Dar, Jonathan Bar-Or
  • Patent number: 7149582
    Abstract: A system for adjusting a spatial distribution of an electrical stimulation field across a scanning electrode, by a system user, including: (a) a scanning electrode for performing functional electrical stimulation (FES) of at least one muscle of a limb, the electrode having first and second electrically conductive areas, separated by an electrically insulating region for insulating therebetween; (b) a distribution mechanism for dividing a current between the areas to produce the spatial distribution of the stimulation field across these areas, the distribution mechanism for operative connection to a muscle stimulator providing electrical stimulation to the system, and (c) a control mechanism for controlling the distribution mechanism, so as to effect a smooth and continuous adjustment of the spatial distribution of the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Amit Dar, Roger H. Nathan
  • Patent number: 7146220
    Abstract: A device for muscle stimulation, including: two exoskeletal shells, each including an outer member including an at least semi-rigid material, the shells being configured to at least partly, surround a limb portion of a user, and kinematic connection means connecting the shells and providing the shells with at least one degree of freedom in translation, so as to enable the shells to move in a substantially linear movement with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Amit Dar, Roger Nathan
  • Publication number: 20040122483
    Abstract: A gait modulation system for improving lower-limb function of a patient having neuromuscular impairment of the lower limbs, including: (a) a sensor associated with a lower limb, for transducing a parameter related to the lower limb, so as to obtain gait information related to at least one gait event within a gait cycle; (b) a neuroprosthesis device including: (i) an electrode array operatively connected to an impaired lower limb, for performing functional electrical stimulation (FES) of at least one muscle of the impaired lower limb; (c) a muscle stimulator operatively connected to the electrode array, for supplying a muscle stimulation output to the array, and (d) a microprocessor operatively connected to the sensor, the microprocessor for processing the gait information and for controlling the muscle stimulation output via the muscle stimulator, wherein the gait modulation system has a sleep mode for autonomous reduction of the muscle stimulation output to the array, the microprocessor being designed and co
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Roger H. Nathan, Amit Dar
  • Publication number: 20030114894
    Abstract: A scanning electrode system for a neuroprosthetic device, the system enabling facile adjustment and fine-tuning of a spatial distribution of a local electrical stimulation field across a scanning electrode, by a system user, the scanning electrode system including: (a) at least one scanning electrode for the neuroprosthetic device, the scanning electrode for performing functional electrical stimulation (FES) of at least one muscle of a limb of the user; (b) a distribution mechanism for distributing a current to the at least one scanning electrode so as to produce a biased electrical stimulation field across the at least one scanning electrode, the distribution mechanism for operative connection to a muscle stimulator providing electrical stimulation to the scanning electrode system, and (c) control means for adjustment of the biased electrical stimulation field by means of the distribution mechanism, the control means designed and configured so as to be accessable to and operable by the system user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Amit Dar, Roger H. Nathan
  • Patent number: 6567706
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrode kit for muscle stimulation to be used in conjunction with a splint, the kit including an electrode carrier attachable to an interior surface of the splint and consisting of a relatively thin, flexible, tray-like member; a thin, flexible electrode member fixedly attached to the electrode carrier, and a skin-contacting pad member consisting of a piece of medium-absorptive material fixedly mounted on a rigidifying frame attachable to, and removable from, the electrode carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Bar-Or, Giora Arbel
  • Patent number: 6496739
    Abstract: The invention provides a set of electrode positioners for skin-contacting surface electrodes used for electrical muscular stimulation in conjunction with a splint, the set including at least one electrode positioner in the form of a scoop-like structure, the concave surface of which substantially fits a first surface of a patient's limb; at least one surface electrode of a predetermined size, location and orientation, fixedly attached to the concave surface, and a terminal element for connecting the at least one electrode to a source of stimulation current, the terminal element being accessible from the rear side of the concave surface, wherein the electrode positioner is configured to be introductive between the surface of the limb and an interior surface of the splint, an element is also provided to arrest the positioner in a predetermined and reproducible final position relative to the splint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Glora Arbel
  • Patent number: 5725489
    Abstract: A crocodile-type splint, including a first Jaw having a substantially trough-like structure at least approximately conforming to sections of the palmar side of a limb, a second jaw having a substantially trough-like structure at least approximately conforming to sections of the dorsal side of the limb, a first joint whereby the jaws are articulated to one another to the effect of permitting the trough-like jaws to include with one another a range of different angles, from an angle small enough for the jaws to clampingly surround the limb, to an angle large enough to at least permit the limb to be freely introduced between the two jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Bar-Or, Roger H. Nathan, Harold Weingarden