Approximately 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year and currently about 5.7 million Americans are living with the effects of a stroke. Although 85% of stroke survivors regain at least some ability to walk, less than 25% regain normal walking speed. Many millions of dollars are spent annually in providing rehabilitation to stroke patients. A key objective of these rehabilitation programs is the restoration of independent gait. However, after spontaneous neurological recovery has reached a plateau, these patients commonly exhibit significant gait abnormalities and severe restrictions in mobility within the community. Most stroke survivors have difficulty with everyday activities such as walking, personal care or meal preparation and routinely face much appreciable challenges with these simple tasks and, as a result, have an eroded sense of physical and emotional well-being. Neurological disorders generally tend to affect the use of one or more limbs. In particular, a common result of neurological disorders such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy or brain injury is a condition called foot drop.
Victhom has developed the first automatic and totally implantable device capable of restoring the mobility of a patient affected by this condition. The Neurostep™ makes it possible to artificially synchronize the activation of the ankle dorsiflexion movement through neurostimulation of the peripheral nerves related to the anterior muscles of the leg. This implant uses neurosensing and neurostimulation technologies based on Victhom’s Bionized™ CLS platform. With this device Victhom demonstrates that its closed-loop technologies are ready for mainstream applications.
The Gait Disorders Implant uses two patented nerve cuffs that are positioned on peripheral nerves located in the thigh region and that are connected to the implanted device (control unit) via flexible wires. By means of the stimulation cuff, the device is able to send electrical signals to motor axons in peripheral nerves that generate contractions of the foot flexor muscles involved in lifting the foot, while the sensing cuff is used to detect afferent signals generated by mechanoreceptors in the foot’s sole in order to detect heel strike and toe lift.
The system is able to switch itself on and off depending on the needs of the patient. The Neurostep™ will allow the disabled individual to walk, to climb and descend stairs. The system features an Exercise Mode that allows the patient to engage in individualized rehabilitation. Because the system is completely implanted (no external component), it is always ready for use and can be utilized in the shower or in the pool. The intent of the Gait Disorders Implant is to help people with gait disorders walk better than would be possible with any other available system, as well as to provide a means for strengthening disused muscles.
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