Artificial Means for Improving Human Motion

Diana Hodgins

doi:10.1155/2004/742983

Abstract

This paper gives a brief description of some of the key ongoing product developments in Europe for medical implants. A range of medical systems that are currently being developed under European-funded programmes are briefly described. The first is an implant that helps people with ‘dropped foot’ improve their walking. Further research on body-worn inertial measuring systems (IMUs) and microsystems will extend the capabilities to other lower-limb and upper-limb applications in the future. Other medical systems being developed with the use of microsystems and nanotechnology include a system to aid deaf and blind people.

Highlights

This paper gives a brief description of some of the key ongoing product developments in Europe for medical implants
As a development of earlier systems, in the early 1990s, Salisbury Hospital developed a surface stimulator that pulses an electrical signal into the nerve from external electrodes carefully located on the lower leg
The team at Salisbury Hospital, together with RRD, end-user manufacturer Finetech Medical (FTM) and microsystem design house European Technology for Business (ETB), have extended this principle to produce an implantable functional electrical stimulator (FES) system for the dropped foot application. This system still has the external power unit and signal processing to produce an electrical pulse mounted on the calf

Summary

Introduction

This paper gives a brief description of some of the key ongoing product developments in Europe for medical implants. Conventional methods to improve movement include artificial aids such as splints attached to the body. As a development of earlier systems, in the early 1990s, Salisbury Hospital developed a surface stimulator that pulses an electrical signal into the nerve from external electrodes carefully located on the lower leg.

Results

Conclusion