Method and implantable systems for neural sensing and nerve stimulation

A method for providing a system capable of producing a dorsiflexion of the foot of a patient in response to the detection of an action indicative of a component of a gait performed by the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a sensing and stimulation electrode device comprising at least one neurosense electrode capable of sensing a nerve signal from a peripheral nerve and at least one stimulation electrode capable of stimulating a peripheral motor nerve fibre,
• arranging the sensing and stimulation electrodes on at least one peripheral upper leg nerve of the patient, the nerve(s) comprising sensor nerve fibres innervating portions of the lower leg of the patient and motor nerve fibres innervating musculature on the lower leg,
• providing means for receiving and processing the sensed neurosignals to identify a signal indicative of a component of the gait performed by the patient and for producing a control signal in response thereto,
• means for operating the at least one stimulation electrode in response to the control signal to produce a stimulation of a peripheral motor nerve fibre.

A method for providing a system comprising sensing and stimulation electrodes, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an arranging electrodes at a single location on a peripheral nerve or a single spinal nerve root of a patient, the nerve comprising one or more nerve fibres from a first group consisting of first sensor nerve fibres and first motor nerve fibres and one or more nerve fibres from a second group consisting of second sensor nerve fibres and second motor nerve fibres,
• providing a first means capable of sensing neurosignals from at least one nerve fibre from the first group,
• providing a second means capable of processing the sensed neurosignals to detect a specified action taking place,
• providing a third means capable of operating the stimulation electrode(s) in response to the detected action to produce a stimulation of at least one nerve fibre from the second group.

A method for providing a system capable of producing a dorsiflexion of the foot of a patient in response to the detection of an action indicative of a component of a gait performed by the patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a detection means capable of detecting an action indicative of a component of the gait performed by the patient,
• providing a stimulation electrode,
• arranging the stimulation electrode on a peripheral upper leg nerve of the patient, the nerve comprising nerve fibres innervating musculature on the lower leg capable of dorsiflexion of the foot, and
• providing operating means capable of operating the stimulation electrode to produce a dorsiflexion of the foot in response to an action detected by the detection means.