Performance of epimysial stimulating electrodes in the lower extremities of individuals with spinal cord injury.

This study describes the performance of surgically-implanted epimysial stimulating electrodes in the muscles of the lower extremities for use in functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) systems for standing after spinal cord injury. A total of 86 epimysial electrodes were implanted in 13 volunteers with low tetraplegia or paraplegia receiving the Case Western Reserve University/Veteran Affairs (CWRU/VA)-implanted standing/transfer neuroprosthesis. The neuroprosthesis consisted of bilateral epimysial electrodes in the knee and hip extensors (vastus lateralis, gluteus maximus, and adductor magnus or semimembranosus) and intramuscular electrodes at the T12/L1 or L1/L2 spinal roots for trunk extension.