Aalborg Universitet

Nordic-neurostim Aps

Ole Kæseler Andersen

Kristian Hennings

Carsten Dahl Mørch

Jonas Emborg

Erika G Spaich

Lars Arendt-Nielsen

Erika Geraldina Spaich

A method for assessing nerve fiber excitability is disclosed. The method comprises: arranging an electrode in contact with skin of a person; determining a first and a second threshold value based on a stimulation current pulse of a first and a second waveform, respectively; wherein said determining of the first threshold value and said determining of the second threshold value each comprises: repeatedly providing a stimulation current pulse of the first or second waveform, respectively, through the electrode, wherein a stimulation current strength is altered between repetitions; and receiving signals from an interaction element with which the person interacts, said signals from the interaction element providing an indication of the first threshold value or the second threshold value, respectively, corresponding to a stimulation current strength necessary to be perceived by the person; and determining at least one measure of psychophysical perception based on the determined first and second threshold values.

Assessment of nerve fiber excitability

A device and method for gait training, such as for rehabilitation of a person after a stroke is provided. In some embodiments, the device comprises a stimulator, preferably electric stimulator, for provoking a spinal cord withdrawal reflex in the person by stimulation on the person's foot in response to a control signal. Hereby, the person's leg will move and initiate a gait swing. A sensor is placed to sense movement of the leg and provide a feedback signal accordingly. A processor unit with a processor runs a control algorithm which calculates the control signal in response to the feedback signal. Thus, the method is based on a closed-loop design, and the control signal is preferably calculated for each walking step, and it is preferably based on the feedback signal obtained from the preceding walking step. Hereby reflex habituation can be accounted for. Preferably, the stimulator has a plurality of stimulator channels with electrodes placed on different sites distributed on the sole of the foot and on the heel. The feedback signal may be based on accelerometer(s), and/or gyroscope(s), and/or goinometer(s) positioned on the leg and/or foot, e.g. partly or fully integrated in an in-sole for a shoe etc.

Method and device for reflex-based functional gait training

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Skørping, Denmark

Ole Kæseler Andersen