Neural sleeve for neuromuscular stimulation, sensing and recording
The present disclosure relates to neuromuscular stimulation and sensing cuffs. The neuromuscular stimulation cuff has at least two fingers and a plurality of electrodes disposed on each finger. More generally, the neuromuscular stimulation cuff includes an outer, reusable component and an inner, disposable component. One or more electrodes are housed within the reusable component. The neuromuscular stimulation cuff may be produced by providing an insulating substrate layer, forming a conductive circuit on the substrate layer to form a conductive circuit layer, adhering a cover layer onto the conductive circuit layer to form a flexible circuit, and cutting at least one flexible finger from the flexible circuit. The neuromuscular stimulation cuff employs a flexible multi-electrode design which allows for reanimation of complex muscle movements in a patient, including individual finger movement.
1 . A device for neuromuscular stimulation and electromyography (EMG) recording, the device comprising:
a bidirectional sleeve comprising a compression sleeve fabric, wherein both ends of the sleeve have the same structure;
at least one directional implant disposed on the sleeve;
electrodes housed within the sleeve and configured to both deliver neuromuscular stimulation to a muscle target and sense EMG signals from the muscle target;
a user interface on an exterior of the sleeve for controlling individual electrodes or groups of electrodes; and
a neural signal processor that is configured to perform closed loop neuromuscular stimulation of the muscle target using the electrodes based on the EMG signals from the muscle target sensed using the electrodes.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are woven into the sleeve using conductive threads or fibers.
3 . The device of claim 2 wherein the conductive threads or fibers are woven into the sleeve.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are printed on the sleeve.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the electrodes comprise conductive polycellulose.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the user interface comprises buttons comprising light emitting diode (LED) based touchscreen displays on a back side of each of the electrodes.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the user interface comprises buttons on the exterior of the sleeve.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the controlling includes adjusting a stimulation level of neuromuscular stimulation applied by the individual electrodes or groups of electrodes.
9 . A method of manufacturing a device for neuromuscular stimulation and electromyography (EMG) recording, the method comprising:
securing electrodes within a bidirectional sleeve comprising a compression sleeve fabric, wherein both ends of the sleeve have the same structure;
placing at least one directional implant on the sleeve;
disposing a user interface on an exterior of the sleeve;
sensing EMG signals from a muscle target using the electrodes;
delivering neuromuscular stimulation to the muscle target using the electrodes; and
controlling individual or groups of the electrodes using the user interface disposed on the exterior of the sleeve;
wherein the delivering of neuromuscular stimulation using the electrodes includes performing closed loop neuromuscular stimulation of the muscle target using the electrodes based on the EMG signals from the muscle target sensed using the electrodes.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the securing of the electrodes within the sleeve comprises:
weaving the electrodes into the sleeve using conductive threads or fibers.
11 . The method of claim 9 wherein the securing of the electrodes within the sleeve comprises:
printing the electrodes on the sleeve.
12 . The method of claim 9 wherein the securing of the electrodes within the sleeve comprises:
printing the electrodes comprising conductive polycellulose.
13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
disposing buttons comprising light emitting diode (LED) based touchscreen displays on a back side of each of the electrodes.
14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the controlling includes adjusting a stimulation pattern of neuromuscular stimulation applied by the controlled individual or groups of the electrodes using the user interface disposed on the exterior of the sleeve.
15 . A device for neuromuscular stimulation and/or electromyography (EMG) recording, the device comprising:
a sleeve comprising a compressible fabric material;
electrodes woven into the compressible fabric material of the sleeve using conductive threads or fibers;
light emitting diode (LED) based touchscreen displays on a back side of each electrode of the multiple electrodes; and
at least one directional implant disposed on a portion of the sleeve.
16 . The device of claim 15 wherein the conductive threads or fibers are woven into the fabric material of the sleeve.