Long-term results following electrical stimulation of the peroneal nerve using the ActiGait® system in 33 patients with central drop foot.

Objective: Direct electrical stimulation of the peroneal nerve, using the implantable ActiGait® system, enables a therapy of the centrally caused drop foot, to improve the gait of the patients. In this paper, we present long-term results at 36-month follow-up post implantation.

Method: A total of 33 patients, 27 stroke and six multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, suffering from spastic drop foot were implanted in our center and assessed in terms of gait endurance, speed, risk of fall, and life quality at baseline and 36 months following implantation.

Significant Impact of Implantable Functional Electrical Stimulation on Gait Parameters: A Kinetic Analysis in Foot Drop Patients.

Objective: Neurogenic drop foot is a common result of acquired damage of the central nervous system and can cause severe restriction of mobility. ActiGait, an implantable functional electrical stimulation device, restores ankle dorsiflexion by active peroneal nerve stimulation. The aim of our study was to evaluate its effect on foot contact pattern during normal walk.

The influence of surface properties of plasma-etched polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on cell growth and morphology.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) or silicone rubber is a widely used implant material. Approaches to promote tissue integration to PDMS are desirable to avoid clinical problems associated with sliding and friction between tissue and implant. Plasma-etching is a useful way to control cell behavior on PDMS without additional coatings.

Current density imaging and electrically induced skin burns under surface electrodes.

The origin of electrical burns under gel-type surface electrodes is a controversial topic that is not well understood. To investigate the phenomenon, we have developed an excised porcine skin-gel model, and used low-frequency current density imaging (LFCDI) to determine the current density (CD) distribution through the skin before and after burns were induced by application of electrical current (200 Hz, 70% duty cycle, 20-35 mA monophasic square waveform applied to the electrodes for 30-135 min). The regions of increased CD correlate well with the gross morphological changes (burns) observed.