A wireless functional electrical stimulation system

Abstract

A system for wireless electrical stimulation was designed and the feasibility evaluated. The Bluetooth communication standard and two different microcontroller systems provided the basis of the system design. The prototype allows four channels of stimulation whereby each stimulator unit contained two channels. The design permitted the possibility of generating voltage controlled biphasic stimulation patterns for muscle activation. The accuracy of stimulation parameters including pulse width, inter-pulse time, baud rate, latency, range, stimulator power consumption and also muscle stimulation were evaluated and feasiblity thereby established. Further research should solve the problem of latency in wireless communication and extend the system with sensors to design closed-loop control strategies. © 2013 by Walter de Gruyter.