Figure 2.
Synthesized 14-channel stimulation pattern for stair descent with hybrid neuroprostheses including variable impedance knee mechanism as function of time. Phases of stair descent (Figure 1) are indicated on top of figure. Stimulus pulse width (in micro-seconds) of each muscle is plotted. Shading represents two fre-quencies of stimulus pulse train, 33.33 Hz (black) and 16.67 Hz (gray). Pattern is triggered by user pressing finger switch; dotted line (~2.7 s) is point at which stimulation is held between states 2 and 3 while waiting for second finger switch input (see Figure 3). Electrodes for stimulation of tibialis anterior (TA) were implanted bilaterally [16]; however, ankles were locked using ankle-foot orthoses for stair descent and thus TA stimulation was omitted. CL = controlled lowering, DS = double support, Gl Max = gluteus maximus, Grac = gracilis, Int = vastus intermedius, L = left, Lat = vastus lateralis, LO = leg off, LP = leg pull through, Med = vastus medialis, P Add = posterior portion of adductor magnus, Quad = quadriceps, R = right, Sart = sartorius, Tensor = tensor fasciae latae, WA = weight acceptance.