Abstract
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) offers some mobility to individual with motor weakness. We propose the direct power feeding method for FES with mounted coils and miniature implanted electrodes. The mounted coils transmit power for driving the implants and communicate with them contactless via electromagnetic induction. These electrodes can stimulate muscle or nervous system locally. Furthermore, this method has a low risk of infection. Our group has developed the direct power feeding FES system, but not yet evaluated the system in animals. In this study, to document feasibility of this system to macaque monkeys, we investigated evoked movement of an upper extremity. In the experiment, the internal devices were not implanted and their output was connected to the connector extended from the electrodes implanted chronically in the muscle to the outside of the body. In the experiment of single channel stimulation, the desired response has been successfully observed on multiple muscles. Additionally, dual channel stimulation has successfully triggered multi-joint movements. Therefore, it has been confirmed that the direct feeding FES system can function successfully in vivo.
