A universal functional electrical stimulator based on merged flyback-SC circuit

This paper introduces novel functional electrical stimulation (FES) system architecture. Compared to the existing state of the art solutions [1]-[15], the presented FES system drastically increases variety of stimulation pulses, results in a less painful therapy and has significantly lower power consumption. Furthermore, the FES system inherently provides zero net charge of stimulated tissue eliminating the need for a dedicated discharging circuit. The key element of the FES is a novel power stage merging a flyback and switch-capacitor (SC) converters. The flyback steps up battery voltage and provides galvanic isolation. The following SC stage produces zero net charge high slew-rate pulses reducing pain sensation. The control of the output current pulses is performed through integrated digital voltage-programmed current mode control. The new FES system was tested with able bodied individuals. The results show that it produces pulses with a 10 ns rise time, which compared to other known solutions, result in the same muscle force output for 30+% less stimulation energy. The results also show that the presented FES system requires 60% less energy compared to other known systems allowing longer battery life in portable applications.

[1]  D. Lake.  Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation , 1992, Sports medicine.

[2]  Excitation of Skeletal Muscle: Neuromuscular Transmission and Excitation-Contraction Coupling , 2022 .

[3]  Dennis D. Roscoe,et al.  An Externally Powered, Multichannel, Implantable Stimulator for Versatile Control of Paralyzed Muscle , 1987, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.

[4]  R. Conway,et al.  A Programmable and Portable NMES Device for Drop Foot Correction and Blood Flow Assist Applications , 2009, 2007 29th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[5]  Anne Vanhoestenberghe,et al.  A stimulator ASIC with capability of neural recording during inter-phase delay , 2011, 2011 Proceedings of the ESSCIRC (ESSCIRC).

[6]  P. Peckham,et al.  Functional electrical stimulation for neuromuscular applications. , 2005, Annual review of biomedical engineering.

[7]  Biranchinath Sahu,et al.  An Accurate, Low-Voltage, CMOS Switching Power Supply With Adaptive On-Time Pulse-Frequency Modulation (PFM) Control , 2007, IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers.

[8]  L. A. Geddes,et al.  Historical evolution of circuit models for the electrode-electrolyte interface , 2007, Annals of Biomedical Engineering.

[9]  Jörg Raisch,et al.  Application Programming Interface and PC control for the 8 channel stimulator MOTIONSTIM8 , 2005 .

[10]  Robert W. Erickson,et al.  Fundamentals of Power Electronics , 2001 .

[11]  Xiao Liu,et al.  A stimulator output stage with capacitor reduction and failure-checking techniques , 2006, 2006 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems.

[12]  D. Vasiljevic,et al.  A programmable electronic stimulator for FES systems , 1994 .

[13]  Milos R Popovic,et al.  Transcutaneous functional electrical stimulator "Compex Motion". , 2002, Artificial organs.

[14]  Michael Norris,et al.  Design and development of medical electronic instrumentation : a practical perspective of the design, construction, and test of medical devices , 2004 .

[15]  Thierry Keller,et al.  Modular transcutaneous functional electrical stimulation system. , 2005, Medical engineering & physics.

[16]  Massimo Tarulli,et al.  New Generation of Programmable Neuroprostheses - Switched Mode Power Supply Functional Electrical Stimulator , 2011 .

[17]  Michael P. Willand,et al.  Design and testing of an instrumentation system to reduce stimulus pulse amplitude requirements during FES , 2008, 2008 30th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[18]  E. Marsolais,et al.  Implanted functional electrical stimulation system for mobility in paraplegia: a follow-up case report. , 1999, IEEE transactions on rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.