Programmable functional electrical stimulation system

Claim 2

1 . A functional electrical stimulation (F ES ) system for providing an electrical output pulse train which is applied to a patient's body to cause a desired FES regimen of contraction and relaxation of muscles of the patient, the FES system including: a clinical FES device for creating the desired FES regimen, the clinical FES device including: means for producing a clinical device output pulse train; means for applying the clinical device output pulse train to the patient's body; means for selecting a program mode of operation during which the desired FES regimen is established; means for providing an intensity control signal during the program mode; means for controlling the intensity of the clinical device output pulse train during the program mode as a function of the intensity control system; means for storing, during the program mode, a sequence of digital data as a function of the intensity control signal, the stored sequence being representative of the desired FES regimen; and a personal FES device for producing a personal device output pulse train in accordance with the desired FES regimen, the personal FES device including: means for receiving, from the clinical FES device, the stored sequence of digital data representative of the desired FES regimen; means for storing the digital data; means for producing a personal device output pulse train; means for applying the personal device output pulse train to the patient's body; and means for controlling the intensity of the personal device output pulse train as a function of the digital data to reproduce the desired FES regimen.

Claim 3

The FES system of claim 1 wherein the clinical FES device further includes: means for selecting an execute mode of operation during which the desired FES regimen is reproduced; and means for controlling the intensity of the output pulse train of the clinical FES device during the execute mode as a function of the stored sequence of digital data.

Claim 4

The FES system of claim 2 wherein the clinical device further includes: means for connecting the clinical FES device and the personal FES device; and means for initiating a transfer of the stored sequence of digital data from the clinical FES device to the personal FES device.

Claim 5

The FES system of claim 1 and further including: an external read/write memory unit for storing data; and wherein the clinical FES device includes means for connecting the clinical device and the external read/write memory unit to permit transferring of digital data between the clinical FES device and the external read/write memory unit.

Claim 6

The FES system of claim 4 wherein the clinical FES device further includes: means for loading data from the external read/write memory unit into the means for storing a sequence of digital data during a load operation, the data from the external read/write memory unit representing a prerecorded FES regimen; and means for transferring digital data from the means for storing a sequence of digital data to the external read/write memory unit during a save operation, the digital data representing the desired FES regimen.

Claim 7

The FES system of claim 1 wherein the clinical FES device further includes means- for selecting a pulse rate of the clinical device output pulse train during the program mode; and wherein the personal FES device further includes means for controlling pulse rate of the personal device output pulse train as a function of the pulse rate selected by the means for selecting.

Claim 8

A functional electrical stimulation (FES) system including: a clinical FES device including: means for producing a clinical device output signal; means for applying the clinical device output signal to a patient's body to cause contraction of muscles; means for varying intensity of the clinical device output signal with time during a program mode to produce a desired FES regimen; means for periodically sampling a signal representative of the intensity during the program mode; means for storing digital data based upon the periodic sampling; means for transferring the digital data; and a personal FES device including: means for producing a personal device output signal; means for applying the personal device output signal to the patient's body to cause contraction of muscles; means for storing the digital data transferred from the clinical FES device; and means for varying the intensity of the personal device output signal with time as a function of the stored digital data to reproduce the desired FES regimen.

Claim 9

A functional electrical stimulation (FES) system including: a clinical FES device including: means for producing a clinical device output signal; means for applying the clinical device output signal to a patient's body to cause contraction of muscles; means for varying intensity of the clinical device output signal with time during a program mode to produce a desired FES regimen; means for periodically sampling a signal representative of the intensity during the program mode; means for storing digital data based upon the periodic sampling; means for transferring the digital data; and a personal FES device including: means for producing a personal device output signal; means for applying the personal device output signal to the patient's body to cause contraction of muscles; means for storing the digital data transferred from the clinical FES device; and means for varying the intensity of the personal device output signal with time as a function of the stored digital data to reproduce the desired FES regimen.

Claim 10

The FES system of claim 7 wherein the clinical FES device further includes: means for selecting an execute mode of operation during which the desired FES regimen is reproduced; and means for controlling the intensity of the clinical device output signal during the execute mode as a function of the digital data.

Claim 11

The FES system of claim 8 wherein the clinical FES device further includes: means for connecting the clinical FES device and the personal FES device; and means for initiating a transfer of the digital data from the clinical FES device to the personal FES device.

Claim 12

1 0. The FES system of claim 7 and further including: an external read/write memory unit for storing data; and wherein the clinical FES device includes means for connecting the clinical device and the external read/write memory unit to permit transferring of digital data between the clinical FES device and the external read/write memory unit.

Claim 13

The FES system of claim 10 wherein the clinical FES device further includes: means for loading data from the external read/write memory unit into the means for storing digital data during a load operation, the data from the external read/write memory unit representing a prerecorded FES regimen; and means for transferring digital data from the means for storing digital data to the external read/write memory unit during a save operation, the digital data representing the desired FES regimen.

Claim 14

1 2. The FES system of claim 7 wherein the cl incal FES device further includes means for selecting a pulse rate of the clinical device output signal during the program mode; and wherein the personal FES device further includes means for controlling pulse rate of the personal device output signal as a function of the pulse rate selected by the means for selecting.

Claim 15

For use in conjunction with a clinical functional electrical stimulation (FES) device which creates a desired FES regimen by applying a clinical device output signal to a patient's body, controlling intensity of the clinical device output signal during a program mode, and storing digital data representative of intensity as a function of time; a personal FES device for producing a personal device output signal which replicates the desired FES regimen, the personal FES device including: means for receiving, from the clinical FES device, the digital data; means for storing the digital data; means for producing the personal device output signal; means for applying the personal device output signal to the patient's body; and means for varying the intensity of the personal device output signal with time as a function of the stored digital data to reproduce the desired FES regimen.

Claim 16

For use in conjunction with a clinical functional electrical stimulation (FES) device which creates a desired FES regimen by applying a clinical device output signal to a patient's body, controlling intensity of the clinical device output signal during a program mode, and storing digital data representative of intensity as a function of time; a personal FES device for producing a personal device output signal which replicates the desired FES regimen, the personal FES device including: means for receiving, from the clinical FES device, the digital data; means for storing the digital data; means for producing the personal device output signal; means for applying the personal device output signal to the patient's body; and means for varying the intensity of the personal device output signal with time as a function of the stored digital data to reproduce the desired FES regimen.

Claim 17

A functional electrical stimulation (FES) system for causing a desired FES regimen of contraction and relaxation of muscles of a patient, the system including: a clinical FES device for creating the desired FES regimen, the clinical FES device including: first clinical device channel amplitude amplitude control means for providing a first clinical device amplitude control signal; . first program/execute select means for selecting between a first program mode of operation and a first execute mode of operation; pulse rate select means for selecting a a pulse repetition rate; means for periodically sampling the first clinical device amplitude control signal during the first program mode to produce a sequence of first sample values; means for storing a sequence of first digital data based upon the first sample values during the first program mode; first clinical device pulse generation means for generating a first clinical device pulse signal at the selected pulse repetition rate, the first clinical device pulse signal having a constant pulse width during the first program mode of operation and having a pulse width which varies as a function of the stored sequence of first digital data during the first execute mode of operation; first clinical device channel output means for providing a first clinical device output pulse train for application to the patient's body, the first clinical device output pulse train having an amplitude which is a function of the first amplitude control signal and having a pulse width which is a function of the pulse width of the first pulse, signal; and means for transferring the selected pulse repetition rate and the first digital data during a transfer operation; a personal FES device for reproducing the desired FES regimen, the personal FES device including: means for storing the selected pulse repetition rate and the sequence of first digital data received from the clinical FES device during the transfer operation; first personal device channel amplitude control means for providing a first personal device amplitude control signal; first personal device pulse generation means for generating a first personal device pulse signal at the selected pulse repetition rate, the first personal device pulse signal having a pulse width which varies as a function of the sequence of first digital data; and first personal device channel output means for providing- a first personal device output pulse train for application to the patient's body, the first personal device output pulse train having an amplitude which is a function of the first . personal device amplitude control signal and having a pulse width which is a function of the pulse width of the first personal device pulse signal.

Claim 18

A functional electrical stimulation (FES) system for causing a desired FES regimen of contraction and relaxation of muscles of a patient, the system including: a clinical FES device for creating the desired FES regimen, the clinical FES device including: first clinical device channel amplitude amplitude control means for providing a first clinical device amplitude control signal; . first program/execute select means for selecting between a first program mode of operation and a first execute mode of operation; pulse rate select means for selecting a a pulse repetition rate; means for periodically sampling the first clinical device amplitude control signal during the first program mode to produce a sequence of first sample values; means for storing a sequence of first digital data based upon the first sample values during the first program mode; first clinical device pulse generation means for generating a first clinical device pulse signal at the selected pulse repetition rate, the first clinical device pulse signal having a constant pulse width during the first program mode of operation and having a pulse width which varies as a function of the stored sequence of first digital data during the first execute mode of operation; first clinical device channel output means for providing a first clinical device output pulse train for application to the patient's body, the first clinical device output pulse train having an amplitude which is a function of the first amplitude control signal and having a pulse width which is a function of the pulse width of the first pulse, signal; and means for transferring the selected pulse repetition rate and the first digital data during a transfer operation; a personal FES device for reproducing the desired FES regimen, the personal FES device including: means for storing the selected pulse repetition rate and the sequence of first digital data received from the clinical FES device during the transfer operation; first personal device channel amplitude control means for providing a first personal device amplitude control signal; first personal device pulse generation means for generating a first personal device pulse signal at the selected pulse repetition rate, the first personal device pulse signal having a pulse width which varies as a function of the sequence of first digital data; and first personal device channel output means for providing- a first personal device output pulse train for application to the patient's body, the first personal device output pulse train having an amplitude which is a function of the first . personal device amplitude control signal and having a pulse width which is a function of the pulse width of the first personal device pulse signal.

Claim 19

The FES system of claim 14 wherein the clinical FES device further includes: second clinical device channel amplitude control means for providing a second clinical device amplitude control signal; second program/execute select means for selecting between a second program mode of operation and a second execute mode of operation; means for periodically sampling the second clinical device amplitude control signal during the second program mode to produce a sequence of second sample values; means for storing a sequence of second digital data based upon the second sample values during the program mode; second clinical device pulse generation means for generating a second clinical device pulse signal at the selected pulse repetition rate, the second clinical device pulse signal having a constant pulse width during the second program mode of operation and having a pulse width which varies as a function of the stored sequence of second digital data during the second execute mode of operation; second clinical device channel output means for providing a second clinical device output pulse train for application to the patient's body, the second clinical device output pulse train having an amplitude which is a function of the second amplitude control signal and having a pulse width which is a function of the pulse width of the second pulse signal; and means for transferring the second digital data during the transfer operation; and wherein the personal FES device further includes: means for storing the sequence of second digital data received from the clinical FES device during the transfer operation; second personal device channel amplitude control means for providing a second personal device amplitude control signal; second personal device pulse generation means for generating a second personal device pulse signal at the selected pulse repetition rate, the second pulse signal having a pulse width which varies as a function of the stored sequence of second digital data; and second personal device channel output means for providing a second personal device output pulse train for application to the patient's body, the second personal device output pulse train having an amplitude which is a function of the second personal device amplitude control signal and having a pulse width which is a function of the pulse width of the second personal device pulse signal.