Design of a Programmable and Modular Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulator Integrated Into a Wireless Body Sensor Network

Abstract

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation finds application in several fields, from basic neurophysiology, to motor rehabilitation and cardiovascular conditioning. Despite the progressively increasing interest in this technique, its State-of-the-Art technology is mainly based on monolithic, mostly wired devices, leading to two main issues. First, these devices are often bulky, limiting their usability in applied contexts. Second, the possibility of interfacing these stimulation devices with external systems for the acquisition of electrophysiological and biomechanical variables to control the stimulation output is often limited. The aim of this work is to describe the design and development of an innovative electrical stimulator, specifically developed to contend with these issues. The developed device is composed of wireless modules that can be programmed and easily interfaced with third-party instrumentation. Moreover, benefiting from the system modular architecture, stimulation may be delivered concurrently to different sites while greatly reducing cable encumbrance. The main design choices and experimental tests are documented, evidencing the practical potential of the device in use-case scenarios.