Effectiveness of a Self-Fitting Tool for User-Driven Fitting of Hearing Aids.

Hearing aids can be effective devices to compensate for age- or non-age-related hearing losses. Their overall adoption in the affected population is still low, especially in underdeveloped countries in the subpopulation experiencing milder hearing loss. One of the major reasons for low adoption is the need for repeated complex fitting by professional audiologists, which is often not completed for various reasons.

Charge and energy minimization in electrical/magnetic stimulation of nervous tissue.

In this work we address the problem of stimulating nervous tissue with the minimal necessary energy at reduced/minimal charge. Charge minimization is related to a valid safety concern (avoidance and reduction of stimulation-induced tissue and electrode damage). Energy minimization plays a role in battery-driven electrical or magnetic stimulation systems (increased lifetime, repetition rates, reduction of power requirements, thermal management).

Patient-cooperative strategies for robot-aided treadmill training: first experimental results.

Task-oriented repetitive movements can improve motor performance in patients with neurological or orthopaedic lesions. The application of robotics and automation technology can serve to assist, enhance, evaluate, and document neurological and orthopedic rehabilitation. This paper deals with the application of "patient-cooperative" techniques to robot-aided gait rehabilitation of neurological disorders.

Development of a human neuro-musculo-skeletal model for investigation of spinal cord injury.

This paper describes a neuro-musculo-skeletal model of the human lower body which has been developed with the aim of studying the effects of spinal cord injury on locomotor abilities. The model represents spinal neural control modules corresponding to central pattern generators, muscle spindle based reflex pathways, golgi tendon organ based pathways and cutaneous reflex pathways, which are coupled to the lower body musculo-skeletal dynamics. As compared to other neuro-musculo-skeletal models which aim to provide a description of the possible mechanisms involved in the production of locomotion, the goal of the model here is to understand the role of the known spinal pathways in locomotion.

Energy-optimal electrical excitation of nerve fibers.

We derive, based on an analytical nerve membrane model and optimal control theory of dynamical systems, an energy-optimal stimulation current waveform for electrical excitation of nerve fibers. Optimal stimulation waveforms for nonleaky and leaky membranes are calculated. The case with a leaky membrane is a realistic case.

Hardware-in-the-loop simulation and analysis of magnetic recording of nerve activity.

The focus of the reported research was on examination of properties of a special toroidal arrangement for magnetic recording of nerve activity. Toroidal high permeability coil placed around a nerve trunk can be used to record voltage induced by magnetic field generated by ionic nerve currents associated with propagating action potentials. The properties were examined in hardware-in-the-loop simulations that were used to identify the input-output relationship of the recording arrangement in case of different simulated intra-axonal current amplitudes and conduction velocities.

Annihilation of single cell neural oscillations by feedforward and feedback control.

Annihilation of neural oscillation by localized electrical stimulation has been shown to be a promising treatment modality in a number of neural diseases like Parkinson disease or epilepsy. The contributions presented in this manuscript comprise newly developed stimulation schemes to achieve annihilation of action potential generation and action potential propagation. The ability to achieve oscillation annihilation is demonstrated in computer simulations with a single compartment nerve cell model (annihilation of action potential generation), and with a multi-compartment nerve fiber model (annihilation of action potential propagation).

Sliding mode closed-loop control of FES: controlling the shank movement.

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) enables restoration of movement in individuals with spinal cord injury. FES-based devices use electric current pulses to stimulate and excite the intact peripheral nerves. They produce muscle contractions, generate joint torques, and thus, joint movements.

Robotic orthosis lokomat: a rehabilitation and research tool.

The aim of this article is to introduce the robotic orthosis Lokomat, developed to automate treadmill training rehabilitation of locomotion for spinal cord injured and stroke patients, to the Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and Neuromodulation research communities, and to report on our newly conducted research. We first illustrate the primary use of Lokomat in rehabilitation and focus on control aspects and algorithms associated with robotic rehabilitation of locomotion. Then we describe two applications where the Lokomat was used as a research tool.

Electrical stimulation for the treatment of bladder dysfunction: current status and future possibilities.

Electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves can be used to cause muscle contraction, to activate reflexes, and to modulate some functions of the central nervous system (neuromodulation). If applied to the spinal cord or nerves controlling the lower urinary tract, electrical stimulation can produce bladder or sphincter contraction, produce micturition, and can be applied as a medical treatment in cases of incontinence and urinary retention. This article first reviews the history of electrical stimulation applied for treatment of bladder dysfunction and then focuses on the implantable Finetech-Brindley stimulator to produce bladder emptying, and on external and implantable neuromodulation systems for treatment of incontinence.