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| Typical Number in Hospital: 5 | Cost Bands: 2 | References: 4 |
Lost nerve or muscle function can be supplemented or replaced by a neural prosthesis. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) may be used for foot drop correction, stimulation of the legs for gait improvement in cerebral palsy, correction of curvature of the spine, diaphragm pacing for the stimulation of breathing via the phrenic nerve, or the restoration of the micturition reflex.
Most of these techniques are in the early stages of development and may be simple asynchronous devices, or may use pressure, force, or EMG input to regulate their action.
The devices themselves are simple electrical pulse stimulators employing a variety of pulse rates, pulse lengths, and operating currents and may be applied externally or internally via transcutaneous connections or via inductive loops.
Content and Design Copyright 2000 Dr. Malcolm C Brown. See Title Page for more details