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Habibollahi Z, Zhou Y, Jenkins ME, Jayne Garland S, Friedman E, Naish MD, Trejos AL. Tremor Suppression Using Functional Electrical Stimulation. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2024; 32:3289-3298. [PMID: 39222447 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2024.3453222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor are two major causes of pathological tremor among people over 60 years old. Due to the side effects and complications of traditional tremor management methods such as medication and deep brain surgery, non invasive tremor suppression methods have become more popular in recent years. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is one of the methods used to reduce tremor in several studies. However, the effect of different FES parameters on tremor suppression and discomfort level, including amplitude, the number of pulses in each stimulation burst, frequency, and pulse width is yet to be studied for longer stimulation durations. Therefore, in this work, experiments were performed on 14 participants with PD to evaluate the effect of thirty seconds of out-of-phase electrical stimulation on wrist tremor at rest. Trials were conducted by varying the stimulation amplitude and the number of pulses while keeping the frequency and pulse width constant. Each test was repeated three times for each participant. The results showed an overall tremor suppression for 11 out of 14 participants and no average positive effects for three participants. It is concluded that despite the effectiveness of FES in tremor suppression, each set of FES parameters showed different suppression levels among participants due to the variability of tremor over time. Thus, for this method to be effective, an adaptive control system would be required to tune FES parameters in real time according to changes in tremor during extended stimulation periods.
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Huang Y, Yao K, Zhang Q, Huang X, Chen Z, Zhou Y, Yu X. Bioelectronics for electrical stimulation: materials, devices and biomedical applications. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:8632-8712. [PMID: 39132912 DOI: 10.1039/d4cs00413b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Bioelectronics is a hot research topic, yet an important tool, as it facilitates the creation of advanced medical devices that interact with biological systems to effectively diagnose, monitor and treat a broad spectrum of health conditions. Electrical stimulation (ES) is a pivotal technique in bioelectronics, offering a precise, non-pharmacological means to modulate and control biological processes across molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ levels. This method holds the potential to restore or enhance physiological functions compromised by diseases or injuries by integrating sophisticated electrical signals, device interfaces, and designs tailored to specific biological mechanisms. This review explains the mechanisms by which ES influences cellular behaviors, introduces the essential stimulation principles, discusses the performance requirements for optimal ES systems, and highlights the representative applications. From this review, we can realize the potential of ES based bioelectronics in therapy, regenerative medicine and rehabilitation engineering technologies, ranging from tissue engineering to neurological technologies, and the modulation of cardiovascular and cognitive functions. This review underscores the versatility of ES in various biomedical contexts and emphasizes the need to adapt to complex biological and clinical landscapes it addresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kuanming Yao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xingcan Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhenlin Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Xinge Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Becerra-Fajardo L, Minguillon J, Krob MO, Rodrigues C, González-Sánchez M, Megía-García Á, Galán CR, Henares FG, Comerma A, Del-Ama AJ, Gil-Agudo A, Grandas F, Schneider-Ickert A, Barroso FO, Ivorra A. First-in-human demonstration of floating EMG sensors and stimulators wirelessly powered and operated by volume conduction. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2024; 21:4. [PMID: 38172975 PMCID: PMC10765656 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-023-01295-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently we reported the design and evaluation of floating semi-implantable devices that receive power from and bidirectionally communicate with an external system using coupling by volume conduction. The approach, of which the semi-implantable devices are proof-of-concept prototypes, may overcome some limitations presented by existing neuroprostheses, especially those related to implant size and deployment, as the implants avoid bulky components and can be developed as threadlike devices. Here, it is reported the first-in-human acute demonstration of these devices for electromyography (EMG) sensing and electrical stimulation. METHODS A proof-of-concept device, consisting of implantable thin-film electrodes and a nonimplantable miniature electronic circuit connected to them, was deployed in the upper or lower limb of six healthy participants. Two external electrodes were strapped around the limb and were connected to the external system which delivered high frequency current bursts. Within these bursts, 13 commands were modulated to communicate with the implant. RESULTS Four devices were deployed in the biceps brachii and the gastrocnemius medialis muscles, and the external system was able to power and communicate with them. Limitations regarding insertion and communication speed are reported. Sensing and stimulation parameters were configured from the external system. In one participant, electrical stimulation and EMG acquisition assays were performed, demonstrating the feasibility of the approach to power and communicate with the floating device. CONCLUSIONS This is the first-in-human demonstration of EMG sensors and electrical stimulators powered and operated by volume conduction. These proof-of-concept devices can be miniaturized using current microelectronic technologies, enabling fully implantable networked neuroprosthetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Becerra-Fajardo
- Department of Information and Communications Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, 08018, Spain
| | - Jesus Minguillon
- Department of Information and Communications Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, 08018, Spain
- Research Centre for Information and Communications Technologies, University of Granada, Granada, 18014, Spain
- Department of Signal Theory, Telematics and Communications, University of Granada, Granada, 18014, Spain
| | - Marc Oliver Krob
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Camila Rodrigues
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, 28002, Spain
- Systems Engineering and Automation Department, Carlos III University of Madrid, Madrid, 28903, Spain
| | - Miguel González-Sánchez
- Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, 28007, Spain
| | - Álvaro Megía-García
- Biomechanics and Assistive Technology Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics. Unit of Neurorehabilitation, Biomechanics and Sensory-Motor Function (HNP-SESCAM), Unit associated to the CSIC, Toledo, Spain
| | - Carolina Redondo Galán
- Biomechanics and Assistive Technology Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics. Unit of Neurorehabilitation, Biomechanics and Sensory-Motor Function (HNP-SESCAM), Unit associated to the CSIC, Toledo, Spain
| | - Francisco Gutiérrez Henares
- Biomechanics and Assistive Technology Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics. Unit of Neurorehabilitation, Biomechanics and Sensory-Motor Function (HNP-SESCAM), Unit associated to the CSIC, Toledo, Spain
| | - Albert Comerma
- Department of Information and Communications Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, 08018, Spain
| | - Antonio J Del-Ama
- School of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Mathematics, Materials Science and Engineering and Electronic Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, Móstoles, 28933, Spain
| | - Angel Gil-Agudo
- Biomechanics and Assistive Technology Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics. Unit of Neurorehabilitation, Biomechanics and Sensory-Motor Function (HNP-SESCAM), Unit associated to the CSIC, Toledo, Spain
- CSIC's Associated RDI Unit 'Unidad De Neurorehabilitación, Biomecánica Y Función Sensitivo-Motora', Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Grandas
- Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, 28007, Spain
| | | | - Filipe Oliveira Barroso
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, 28002, Spain
- CSIC's Associated RDI Unit 'Unidad De Neurorehabilitación, Biomecánica Y Función Sensitivo-Motora', Madrid, Spain
| | - Antoni Ivorra
- Department of Information and Communications Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, 08018, Spain.
- Serra Húnter Fellow Programme, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, 08018, Spain.
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Okajima S, Costa-García ÁL, Ueda S, Yang N, Shimoda S. Forearm muscle activity estimation based on anatomical structure of muscles. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023; 306:741-763. [PMID: 35385221 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Estimation of muscle activity using surface electromyography (sEMG) is an important non-invasive method that can lead to a deeper understanding of motor-control strategies in humans. Measurement using multiple active electrodes is necessary to estimate not only surface muscle activity but also deep muscle activity in dynamic motion. In this paper, we propose a method for estimating muscle activity of dynamic motions based on anatomical knowledge of muscle structures. To estimate muscle activity, a large number of signal sources are set in the muscle model, and connections between the signal sources are defined a priori based on the anatomical structure of the muscles. The signal source activities are first estimated by minimizing the Kullback-Leibler divergence with a continuity cost. Then, the muscle activity is computed from the signal source activity. In the experiments, five healthy participants performed five types of motion and the forearm sEMG was measured with 20-channel active electrodes. The estimation results for these motions were visualized in four dimensions as the three-dimensional position of the muscle over time. The results showed that the estimation was accurate, with a reproduction rate of 95% for the measured sEMG and continuity of the muscle activity. In addition, the results suggest the advantage of the proposed method over the conventional approaches in terms of estimating the muscle activity for both dynamic and abnormal motions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shotaro Okajima
- CBS- TOYOTA Collaboration Center, Center of Brain Science, RIKEN, 2271-130 Shimo-Shidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, 463-0003, Japan
| | - ÁLvaro Costa-García
- CBS- TOYOTA Collaboration Center, Center of Brain Science, RIKEN, 2271-130 Shimo-Shidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, 463-0003, Japan
| | - Sayako Ueda
- CBS- TOYOTA Collaboration Center, Center of Brain Science, RIKEN, 2271-130 Shimo-Shidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, 463-0003, Japan
| | - Ningjia Yang
- CBS- TOYOTA Collaboration Center, Center of Brain Science, RIKEN, 2271-130 Shimo-Shidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, 463-0003, Japan
| | - Shingo Shimoda
- CBS- TOYOTA Collaboration Center, Center of Brain Science, RIKEN, 2271-130 Shimo-Shidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, 463-0003, Japan
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Pascual-Valdunciel A, Kurukuti NM, Montero-Pardo C, Barroso FO, Pons JL. Modulation of spinal circuits following phase-dependent electrical stimulation of afferent pathways. J Neural Eng 2023; 20. [PMID: 36603216 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/acb087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective.Peripheral electrical stimulation (PES) of afferent pathways is a tool commonly used to induce neural adaptations in some neural disorders such as pathological tremor or stroke. However, the neuromodulatory effects of stimulation interventions synchronized with physiological activity (closed-loop strategies) have been scarcely researched in the upper-limb. Here, the short-term spinal effects of a 20-minute stimulation protocol where afferent pathways were stimulated with a closed-loop strategy named selective and adaptive timely stimulation (SATS) were explored in 11 healthy subjects.Approach. SATS was applied to the radial nerve in-phase (INP) or out-of-phase (OOP) with respect to the muscle activity of the extensor carpi radialis (ECR). The neural adaptations at the spinal cord level were assessed for the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) by measuring disynaptic Group I inhibition, Ia presynaptic inhibition, Ib facilitation from the H-reflex and estimation of the neural drive before, immediately after, and 30 minutes after the intervention.Main results.SATS strategy delivered electrical stimulation synchronized with the real-time muscle activity measured, with an average delay of 17 ± 8 ms. SATS-INP induced increased disynaptic Group I inhibition (77 ± 23% of baseline conditioned FCR H-reflex), while SATS-OOP elicited the opposite effect (125 ± 46% of baseline conditioned FCR H-reflex). Some of the subjects maintained the changes after 30 minutes. No other significant changes were found for the rest of measurements.Significance.These results suggest that the short-term modulatory effects of phase-dependent PES occur at specific targeted spinal pathways for the wrist muscles in healthy individuals. Importantly, timely recruitment of afferent pathways synchronized with specific muscle activity is a fundamental principle that shall be considered when tailoring PES protocols to modulate specific neural circuits. (NCT number 04501133).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Pascual-Valdunciel
- Legs & Walking AbilityLab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, United States of America.,Department of PM&R, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America.,Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,E.T.S. Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nish Mohith Kurukuti
- Legs & Walking AbilityLab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, United States of America.,Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Cristina Montero-Pardo
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Filipe Oliveira Barroso
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis Pons
- Legs & Walking AbilityLab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, United States of America.,Department of PM&R, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America.,Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States of America
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Rodrigues-Carvalho C, Fernández-García M, Pinto-Fernández D, Sanz-Morere C, Barroso FO, Borromeo S, Rodríguez-Sánchez C, Moreno JC, del-Ama AJ. Benchmarking the Effects on Human-Exoskeleton Interaction of Trajectory, Admittance and EMG-Triggered Exoskeleton Movement Control. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:791. [PMID: 36679587 PMCID: PMC9867281 DOI: 10.3390/s23020791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, robotic technology for gait training is becoming a common tool in rehabilitation hospitals. However, its effectiveness is still controversial. Traditional control strategies do not adequately integrate human intention and interaction and little is known regarding the impact of exoskeleton control strategies on muscle coordination, physical effort, and user acceptance. In this article, we benchmarked three types of exoskeleton control strategies in a sample of seven healthy volunteers: trajectory assistance (TC), compliant assistance (AC), and compliant assistance with EMG-Onset stepping control (OC), which allows the user to decide when to take a step during the walking cycle. This exploratory study was conducted within the EUROBENCH project facility. Experimental procedures and data analysis were conducted following EUROBENCH's protocols. Specifically, exoskeleton kinematics, muscle activation, heart and breathing rates, skin conductance, as well as user-perceived effort were analyzed. Our results show that the OC controller showed robust performance in detecting stepping intention even using a corrupt EMG acquisition channel. The AC and OC controllers resulted in similar kinematic alterations compared to the TC controller. Muscle synergies remained similar to the synergies found in the literature, although some changes in muscle contribution were found, as well as an overall increase in agonist-antagonist co-contraction. The OC condition led to the decreased mean duration of activation of synergies. These differences were not reflected in the overall physiological impact of walking or subjective perception. We conclude that, although the AC and OC walking conditions allowed the users to modulate their walking pattern, the application of these two controllers did not translate into significant changes in the overall physiological cost of walking nor the perceived experience of use. Nonetheless, results suggest that both AC and OC controllers are potentially interesting approaches that can be explored as gait rehabilitation tools. Furthermore, the INTENTION project is, to our knowledge, the first study to benchmark the effects on human-exoskeleton interaction of three different exoskeleton controllers, including a new EMG-based controller designed by us and never tested in previous studies, which has made it possible to provide valuable third-party feedback on the use of the EUROBENCH facility and testbed, enriching the apprenticeship of the project consortium and contributing to the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Rodrigues-Carvalho
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
- Systems Engineering and Automation Department, Carlos III University of Madrid, 28903 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - David Pinto-Fernández
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
- CAR-UPM Associated Unit, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Clara Sanz-Morere
- Center for Clinical Neuroscience, Hospital Los Madroños, 28690 Madrid, Spain
| | - Filipe Oliveira Barroso
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Susana Borromeo
- Electronic Technology Department, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
| | | | - Juan C. Moreno
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio J. del-Ama
- Electronic Technology Department, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28933 Móstoles, Spain
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Pascual-Valdunciel A, Lopo-Martínez V, Beltrán-Carrero AJ, Sendra-Arranz R, González-Sánchez M, Pérez-Sánchez JR, Grandas F, Farina D, Pons JL, Oliveira Barroso F, Gutiérrez Á. Classification of Kinematic and Electromyographic Signals Associated with Pathological Tremor Using Machine and Deep Learning. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 25:114. [PMID: 36673255 PMCID: PMC9858124 DOI: 10.3390/e25010114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral Electrical Stimulation (PES) of afferent pathways has received increased interest as a solution to reduce pathological tremors with minimal side effects. Closed-loop PES systems might present some advantages in reducing tremors, but further developments are required in order to reliably detect pathological tremors to accurately enable the stimulation only if a tremor is present. This study explores different machine learning (K-Nearest Neighbors, Random Forest and Support Vector Machines) and deep learning (Long Short-Term Memory neural networks) models in order to provide a binary (Tremor; No Tremor) classification of kinematic (angle displacement) and electromyography (EMG) signals recorded from patients diagnosed with essential tremors and healthy subjects. Three types of signal sequences without any feature extraction were used as inputs for the classifiers: kinematics (wrist flexion-extension angle), raw EMG and EMG envelopes from wrist flexor and extensor muscles. All the models showed high classification scores (Tremor vs. No Tremor) for the different input data modalities, ranging from 0.8 to 0.99 for the f1 score. The LSTM models achieved 0.98 f1 scores for the classification of raw EMG signals, showing high potential to detect tremors without any processed features or preliminary information. These models may be explored in real-time closed-loop PES strategies to detect tremors and enable stimulation with minimal signal processing steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Pascual-Valdunciel
- E.T.S. Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Víctor Lopo-Martínez
- E.T.S. Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Rafael Sendra-Arranz
- E.T.S. Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel González-Sánchez
- Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Ricardo Pérez-Sánchez
- Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Grandas
- Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Dario Farina
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - José L. Pons
- Legs & Walking AbilityLab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of PM&R, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Filipe Oliveira Barroso
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Gutiérrez
- E.T.S. Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Rationale and Evidence for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Treating Essential Tremor. Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y) 2022; 12:20. [PMID: 35949227 PMCID: PMC9205368 DOI: 10.5334/tohm.685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: There is growing recognition of peripheral stimulation techniques for controlling arm symptoms in essential tremor (ET). Recently, the FDA gave clearance to the Cala system, a device worn around the wrist to treat arm tremors. The Cala system stimulates the sensory afferents of the peripheral nerves with high-frequency pulses. These pulses are delivered to the median and radial nerves alternately at the tremor frequency of the individual patient. Methods: The PubMed database was searched using the terms (“Essential Tremor”[Mesh] OR “essential tremor” [Title/Abstract] OR “tremor” [Title/Abstract]) AND (“peripheral arm stimulation” [Title/Abstract] OR “Cala device” [Title/Abstract] OR “sensory afferent stimulation” [Title/Abstract] OR “afferent stimulation” [Title/Abstract] OR “arm stimulation” [Title/Abstract] OR “peripheral nerve stimulation” [Title/Abstract]). Results: The search yielded 54 articles. Many studies discussed the rationale and various strategies for peripheral modulation of tremor. While the Cala system was found to be safe and well-tolerated in ET, data on efficacy revealed mixed findings. In a large randomized, blinded trial (n = 77), the primary outcome evaluated with spiral drawing task did not improve but the secondary outcomes reflected by the arm tremor severity and the activities of the daily living score revealed 20–25% improvements. A subsequent trial (n = 323) found that the in-home use of the Cala device led to improvements of similar magnitude lasting for at least three months but the clinical assessments were open-labeled. Discussion: Peripheral stimulation techniques are promising therapeutic modalities for treating ET symptoms. Stimulation of sensory afferent nerve fibers at the wrist can potentially modulate the peripheral and central components of the tremor network. Although the Cala system is user-friendly, safe, and well-tolerated, the current clinical evidence on the efficacy is inconsistent and insufficient. Thus, more data is warranted for implementing peripheral nerve stimulation as a standard of care for ET. Highlights The current review discusses the rationale, background, and potential mechanisms for using peripheral arm stimulation devices for treating ET. The Cala system is a wrist-worn peripheral nerve stimulation device that received FDA clearance to treat arm tremors. The current review evaluates the evidence for the safety and efficacy of using the Cala system and similar devices in clinical practice.
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Becerra-Fajardo L, Krob MO, Minguillon J, Rodrigues C, Welsch C, Tudela-Pi M, Comerma A, Oliveira Barroso F, Schneider A, Ivorra A. Floating EMG sensors and stimulators wirelessly powered and operated by volume conduction for networked neuroprosthetics. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2022; 19:57. [PMID: 35672857 PMCID: PMC9171952 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-022-01033-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Implantable neuroprostheses consisting of a central electronic unit wired to electrodes benefit thousands of patients worldwide. However, they present limitations that restrict their use. Those limitations, which are more adverse in motor neuroprostheses, mostly arise from their bulkiness and the need to perform complex surgical implantation procedures. Alternatively, it has been proposed the development of distributed networks of intramuscular wireless microsensors and microstimulators that communicate with external systems for analyzing neuromuscular activity and performing stimulation or controlling external devices. This paradigm requires the development of miniaturized implants that can be wirelessly powered and operated by an external system. To accomplish this, we propose a wireless power transfer (WPT) and communications approach based on volume conduction of innocuous high frequency (HF) current bursts. The currents are applied through external textile electrodes and are collected by the wireless devices through two electrodes for powering and bidirectional digital communications. As these devices do not require bulky components for obtaining power, they may have a flexible threadlike conformation, facilitating deep implantation by injection. METHODS We report the design and evaluation of advanced prototypes based on the above approach. The system consists of an external unit, floating semi-implantable devices for sensing and stimulation, and a bidirectional communications protocol. The devices are intended for their future use in acute human trials to demonstrate the distributed paradigm. The technology is assayed in vitro using an agar phantom, and in vivo in hindlimbs of anesthetized rabbits. RESULTS The semi-implantable devices were able to power and bidirectionally communicate with the external unit. Using 13 commands modulated in innocuous 3 MHz HF current bursts, the external unit configured the sensing and stimulation parameters, and controlled their execution. Raw EMG was successfully acquired by the wireless devices at 1 ksps. CONCLUSIONS The demonstrated approach overcomes key limitations of existing neuroprostheses, paving the way to the development of distributed flexible threadlike sensors and stimulators. To the best of our knowledge, these devices are the first based on WPT by volume conduction that can work as EMG sensors and as electrical stimulators in a network of wireless devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Becerra-Fajardo
- Department of Information and Communications Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08018, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marc Oliver Krob
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Jesus Minguillon
- Department of Information and Communications Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08018, Barcelona, Spain
- Research Centre for Information and Communications Technologies, University of Granada, 18014, Granada, Spain
- Department of Signal Theory, Telematics and Communications, University of Granada, 18014, Granada, Spain
| | - Camila Rodrigues
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002, Madrid, Spain
- Electronics, Automation and Communications Department, ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University, 28015, Madrid, Spain
| | - Christine Welsch
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Marc Tudela-Pi
- Department of Information and Communications Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08018, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Comerma
- Department of Information and Communications Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08018, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Filipe Oliveira Barroso
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 28002, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andreas Schneider
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, 66280, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Antoni Ivorra
- Department of Information and Communications Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08018, Barcelona, Spain
- Serra Húnter Fellow Programme, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08018, Barcelona, Spain
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Pascual-Valdunciel A, Rajagopal A, Pons JL, Delp S. Non-invasive electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves for the management of tremor. J Neurol Sci 2022; 435:120195. [PMID: 35220113 PMCID: PMC9590374 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2022.120195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Pathological tremor in patients with essential tremor and Parkinsons disease is typically treated using medication or neurosurgical interventions. There is a widely recognized need for new treatments that avoid the side effects of current medications and do not carry the risks of surgical interventions. Building on decades of research and engineering development, non-invasive electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves has emerged as a safe and effective strategy for reducing pathologic tremor in essential tremor. This review surveys the peripheral electrical stimulation (PES) literature and summarizes effectiveness, safety, clinical translatability, and hypothesized tremor-reduction mechanisms of various PES approaches. The review also proposes guidelines for assessing tremor in the context of evaluating new therapies that combine the strengths of clinician assessments, patient evaluations, and novel motion sensing technology. The review concludes with a summary of future directions for PES, including expanding clinical access for patients with Parkinson's disease and leveraging large, at-home datasets to learn more about tremor physiology and treatment effect that will better characterize the state of tremor management and accelerate discovery of new therapies. Growing evidence suggests that non-invasive electrical stimulation of afferent neural pathways provides a viable new option for management of pathological tremor, with one specific PES therapy cleared for prescription and home use, suggesting that PES be considered along with medication and neurosurgical interventions for treatment of tremor. This article is part of the Special Issue "Tremor" edited by Daniel D. Truong, Mark Hallett, and Aasef Shaikh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Pascual-Valdunciel
- Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; E.T.S. Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Jose L Pons
- Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA; Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Kim J, Wichmann T, Inan OT, DeWeerth SP. Analyzing the Effects of Parameters for Tremor Modulation via Phase-Locked Electrical Stimulation on a Peripheral Nerve. J Pers Med 2022; 12:76. [PMID: 35055390 PMCID: PMC8779889 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12010076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Non-invasive neuromodulation is a promising alternative to medication or deep-brain stimulation treatment for Parkinson's Disease or essential tremor. In previous work, we developed and tested a wearable system that modulates tremor via the non-invasive, electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves. In this article, we examine the proper range and the effects of various stimulation parameters for phase-locked stimulation. (2) Methods: We recruited nine participants with essential tremor. The subjects performed a bean-transfer task that mimics an eating activity to elicit kinetic tremor while using the wearable stimulation system. We examined the effects of stimulation with a fixed duty cycle, at different stimulation amplitudes and frequencies. The epochs of stimulation were locked to one of four phase positions of ongoing tremor, as measured with an accelerometer. We analyzed stimulation-evoked changes of the frequency and amplitude of tremor. (3) Results: We found that the higher tremor amplitude group experienced a higher rate of tremor power reduction (up to 65%) with a higher amplitude of stimulation when the stimulation was applied at the ±peak of tremor phase. (4) Conclusions: The stimulation parameter can be adjusted to optimize tremor reduction, and this study lays the foundation for future large-scale parameter optimization experiments for personalized peripheral nerve stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeonghee Kim
- Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Thomas Wichmann
- Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA;
- Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Omer T. Inan
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; (O.T.I.); (S.P.D.)
| | - Stephen P. DeWeerth
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; (O.T.I.); (S.P.D.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
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Lora-Millan JS, Delgado-Oleas G, Benito-León J, Rocon E. A Review on Wearable Technologies for Tremor Suppression. Front Neurol 2021; 12:700600. [PMID: 34434161 PMCID: PMC8380769 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.700600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tremor is defined as a rhythmic, involuntary oscillatory movement of a body part. Although everyone exhibits a certain degree of tremor, some pathologies lead to very disabling tremors. These pathological tremors constitute the most prevalent movement disorder, and they imply severe difficulties in performing activities of daily living. Although tremors are currently managed through pharmacotherapy or surgery, these treatments present significant associated drawbacks: drugs often induce side effects and show decreased effectiveness over years of use, while surgery is a hazardous procedure for a very low percentage of eligible patients. In this context, recent research demonstrated the feasibility of managing upper limb tremors through wearable technologies that suppress tremors by modifying limb biomechanics or applying counteracting forces. Furthermore, recent experiments with transcutaneous afferent stimulation showed significant tremor attenuation. In this regard, this article reviews the devices developed following these tremor management paradigms, such as robotic exoskeletons, soft robotic exoskeletons, and transcutaneous neurostimulators. These works are presented, and their effectiveness is discussed. The article also evaluates the different metrics used for the validation of these devices and the lack of a standard validation procedure that allows the comparison among them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio S. Lora-Millan
- Centro de Automática y Robótica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Delgado-Oleas
- Centro de Automática y Robótica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Ingeniería Electrónica, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Julián Benito-León
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Rocon
- Centro de Automática y Robótica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Pascual-Valdunciel A, Hoo GW, Avrillon S, Barroso FO, Goldman JG, Hernandez-Pavon JC, Pons JL. Peripheral electrical stimulation to reduce pathological tremor: a review. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2021; 18:33. [PMID: 33588841 PMCID: PMC7885254 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-021-00811-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Interventions to reduce tremor in essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) clinical populations often utilize pharmacological or surgical therapies. However, there can be significant side effects, decline in effectiveness over time, or clinical contraindications for these interventions. Therefore, alternative approaches must be considered and developed. Some non-pharmacological strategies include assistive devices, orthoses and mechanical loading of the tremorgenic limb, while others propose peripheral electrical stimulation. Specifically, peripheral electrical stimulation encompasses strategies that activate motor and sensory pathways to evoke muscle contractions and impact sensorimotor function. Numerous studies report the efficacy of peripheral electrical stimulation to alter tremor generation, thereby opening new perspectives for both short- and long-term tremor reduction. Therefore, it is timely to explore this promising modality in a comprehensive review. In this review, we analyzed 27 studies that reported the use of peripheral electrical stimulation to reduce tremor and discuss various considerations regarding peripheral electrical stimulation: the stimulation strategies and parameters, electrodes, experimental designs, results, and mechanisms hypothesized to reduce tremor. From our review, we identified a high degree of disparity across studies with regard to stimulation patterns, experimental designs and methods of assessing tremor. Having standardized experimental methodology is a critical step in the field and is needed in order to accurately compare results across studies. With this review, we explore peripheral electrical stimulation as an intervention for tremor reduction, identify the limitations and benefits of the current state-of-the-art studies, and provide ideas to guide the development of novel approaches based on the neural circuitries and mechanical properties implied in tremor generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Pascual-Valdunciel
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.,E.T.S. Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Grace W Hoo
- Legs + Walking Lab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Simon Avrillon
- Legs + Walking Lab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Filipe Oliveira Barroso
- Neural Rehabilitation Group, Cajal Institute, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jennifer G Goldman
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.,Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Julio C Hernandez-Pavon
- Legs + Walking Lab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - José L Pons
- Legs + Walking Lab, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. .,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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