A flexible, portable system for neuromuscular stimulation in the paralyzed upper extremity

Abstract
A portable functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) system for control of the muscles of the paralyzed upper extremity has been developed and evaluated for outpatient use. The system, which has been tested over a five-year period, incorporates an 8-bit CMOS microprocessor which can be programmed to accept and process a variety of user-generated commands and to output complex stimulus patterns. Eight channels of analog input can be used to control four channels of constant-current-compensation monophasic stimulus output. The portable FNS system is programmed using a multichannel laboratory stimulation system.<>