EMG pattern analysis for patient-responsive control of FES in paraplegics for walker-supported walking

This paper describes and discusses the employment of EMG pattern analysis to provide upper-motor-neuron paraplegics with patient-responsive control of FES (functional electrical stimulation) for the purpose of walker-supported walking. The system described employs above-lesion surface EMG signals to activate standing and walking functions in a patient-responsive manner. This system has been experimentally applied to paraplegics at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago since early 1982. Below-lesion response-EMG control from the stimulated sites has been added in 1987 to regulate stimuli levels in the face of fatigue. Although transcutaneous FES alone is being employed, the system is applicable in principle also to implantable FES systems.