Method for residual limbs of amputees
Various aspects of this disclosure relate to a layered polymer substrate with electrodes and conductive ink embedded in the substrate. In some embodiments, a prosthetic liner may be bonded onto the polymer substrate. The substrate may include an interconnect coupled to the electrodes via the conductive ink. The system may include a controller (e.g., an electrode controller) in communication with the electrodes via the conductive ink. The electrodes may be activated such that they may stimulate nerve fibers in a user's residual limb.
1 . A method of manufacturing a nerve modulation system, comprising:
forming a substrate, including:
a plurality of electrodes; and
a plurality of conductors coupled to the plurality of electrodes, each electrode associated with a respective conductor;
providing an electrode controller configured to transmit electrical current to the plurality of electrodes according to one or more inputs and configured to pulse electrical current with a pulse frequency up to 180 pulses per second and a pulse width of up to 400 microseconds;
coupling an interconnect with the plurality of conductors, the interconnect configured to interchangeably connect the electrode controller to the substrate and electrically communicate with each electrode; and
providing a user device with a user interface configured for an amputee to communicate signaling to the electrode controller via one or more inputs, a first input corresponding to selectively activating one or more of the plurality of electrodes to stimulate nerve fibers in one or more locations in a residual limb of the amputee.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a prosthetic liner.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing at least one sensor in the substrate.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of a stretch sensor, a temperature sensor, a movement sensor, a motion sensor, a moisture sensor, an oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, a bacterial sensor, a vibrational sensor, a blood glucose sensor, a pulse oxygen sensor, and a magnetic flux sensor.
5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
forming, on the substrate, a first conductor between each respective sensor and the interconnect, wherein the first conductor acts as a feedback path for each respective sensor.
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data associated with a skin temperature, a respiration rate, a heart rate, a heart rate variability, a galvanic skin response, a pulse oxygen reading, a blood oxygen saturation, a blood sugar level, or a combination thereof, and the user device is configured to receive a first signaling associated with the data obtained from the at least one sensor.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user device is configured to:
receive a first signaling indicating physiological data associated with stimulating the nerve fibers in the residual limb; and display the physiological data at the user interface of the user device.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first signaling includes data associated with a stretch sensor, a temperature sensor, a movement sensor, a motion sensor, a moisture sensor, an oxygen sensor, a pressure sensor, a bacterial sensor, a vibrational sensor, a blood glucose sensor, a pulse oxygen sensor, a magnetic flux sensor, or a combination thereof.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the substrate is less than 26 mm.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are adapted directly to the plurality of conductors.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductors comprise silver infused nanoparticles, gold infused nanoparticles, a silver coated material, a conductive carbon material, or a combination thereof.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
connecting two or more edges of the substrate together via a seam; and
forming the substrate into a tubular shape responsive to connecting two or more edges of the substrate together via a seam.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductors are configured to:
communicate a signaling to each electrode from the interconnect; and
communicate a signaling to the interconnect from each electrode.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the user device is a mobile phone, a computer, or a wearable device.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a third input corresponds to user feedback from the amputee, selected from at least one of pain feedback, mental health feedback, and preferred setting feedback.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one input from the user device corresponds to an indication by which the nerve fibers in the residual limb are stimulated for at least one of: a duration, a pulse intensity, a stimulation intensity, and switching sensations.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductors comprise a conductive ink, and forming the substrate further comprises screen-printing the conductive ink on a first polymer layer to form conductive paths between the plurality of electrodes and the interconnect.
18 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: forming a first polymer layer comprising the plurality of electrodes; and forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the plurality of conductors, wherein the plurality of electrodes are embedded relative to an upper surface of the second polymer layer.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of channels, each channel associated with a respective conductor of the plurality of conductors, and the interconnect comprises a plurality of pins, each pin configured to be received by a respective channel to electrically connect with the respective conductor.
20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing a power source coupled with the interconnect and configured to power the plurality of electrodes and the electrode controller.