Personalized FES Patterns for Automatic Cycle Ergometer Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ergometers with functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems require manual calibration by a qualified person, which is time-consuming and delays the training phase, and lack personalized stimulation patterns for individual muscle groups and lateral differences in the body.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for determining personalized electrical stimulation patterns for each muscle or muscle group of the user's body, differentiated for the left and right sides, using data processing units in ergometers to analyze muscle profiles and provide automatic calibration based on sensor data during periodic movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual calibration by a qualified person is used to determine FES parameters, then the stimulation parameters are accurate and personalized, but the calibration process is time-consuming and delays the training phase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic calibration without requiring a qualified person. The ergometer autonomously determines FES parameters by having the subject perform standardized movements while sensors collect muscle response data, eliminating the need for manual intervention and significantly reducing calibration time while maintaining personalization through subject-specific data collection
Solution Approach 2:
The manual calibration process is replaced with an automated electronic system. Sensors detect muscle responses during standardized movements, and a processing unit automatically analyzes the data to determine optimal FES parameters, substituting the mechanical/manual process with an electronic measurement and computation system
2Productivity
If generic FES parameters are used for all users, then the calibration process is simplified and faster, but the stimulation is not personalized to individual muscle characteristics and lateral differences
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines separate FES parameters for different muscle groups and for each lateral side (left and right) of the body. Sensors collect data from specific muscle groups during standardized movements, and the processing unit generates customized stimulation parameters tailored to each muscle's characteristics and each side's specific needs, ensuring local optimization rather than generic uniform parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process is divided into separate measurements for different muscle groups and lateral sides. The system independently determines parameters for each muscle group and each side of the body, allowing personalized stimulation patterns that account for asymmetries and individual muscle characteristics without requiring a single generic parameter set
3Measurement precision
If FES system is equipped with multiple sensors for data collection, then personalized calibration is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is designed to collect multiple types of data (force, position, acceleration) that serve multiple purposes in the calibration process. The same sensors used for motion tracking also provide data for muscle response analysis, and the processing unit handles both kinematic and muscular data to generate comprehensive FES parameters, reducing the need for separate specialized sensors for each measurement type
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, automatic calibration of FES systems, reducing muscle fatigue and enhancing mechanical performance during training by accounting for individual muscle differences, without the need for manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is a well-established rehabilitation technique that delivers pulses of electrical current to the nerves, causing the muscles they innervate to contract. These pulses excite the nerve of the weakened or paralyzed muscle so that the muscle contracts.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for determining an electrical stimulating pattern in a cycle ergometer equipped with a functional electrical stimulation (FES) system, said electrical pattern being personalized to the left and the right lateral parts of a user's body. The present invention also refers to an ergometer, preferably a cycle ergometer such as an electric stimulation stationary bike, comprising a FES controller with instructions to operate the method of the invention.