Electronic driving circuit for sleeve for FES, NMES, and/or EMG readout, and sleeve including same

A method of performing functional electrical stimulation (FES) or neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on muscles and also receiving electromyography (EMG) signals from the muscles, the method comprising:

• performing FES or NMES on the muscles including turning field-effect transistors (FETs) off during the FES or NMES to protect an EMG amplifier from voltages applied by the stimulator during the FES or NMES;
• reading EMG signals from the muscles using the EMG amplifier including turning the FETs on during the reading of the EMG signals to connect the EMG amplifier with the electrodes;
• closing solid state relays during the FES or NMES to connect the stimulator with the electrodes;
• opening the solid state relays during the reading of the EMG signals to isolate the stimulator from the EMG amplifier;
• turning off pulling field-effect transistors (FETs) that have terminals connected with ground during the reading of EMG signals;
• and
• turning on the pulling FETs during the performing of FES or NMES.

A device for use in performing functional electrical stimulation (FES), in performing neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), and/or in receiving electromyography (EMG) signals, the device comprising:

• electrodes configured to be positioned to contact skin;
• a stimulator;
• an EMG amplifier;
• and
• an electronic circuit configured to switch between:
• a stimulation mode in which the electronic circuit connects the stimulator with the electrodes to perform FES or NMES and electrically isolates the EMG amplifier from the electrodes, and
• an EMG readout mode in which the electronic circuit disconnects the stimulator from the electrodes and provides electrical continuity between the electrodes and the EMG amplifier;
• wherein the electronic circuit includes:
• solid state relays that close in the stimulation mode to connect the stimulator with the electrodes and that open in the EMG readout mode to disconnect the stimulator from the electrodes;
• field effect transistors (FETs) that are off in the stimulation mode to electrically isolate the EMG amplifier from the electrodes and that are on in the EMG readout mode to provide electrical continuity between the electrodes and the EMG amplifier;
• and
• pulling field-effect transistors (FETs) having terminals connected with ground, the pulling FETs being off in EMG readout mode to provide electrical continuity between the electrodes and the EMG amplifier and being on in stimulation mode to protect the EMG amplifier from voltages applied by the stimulator during FES or NMES.