System and method for treating paralyzed persons

A treatment system for paralyzed persons comprising:

• a pair of oppositely disposed pedals mounted for rotation about a common axis,
• means for maintaining the feet of said persons in engagement with said pedals,
• load means responsive to rotation of said pedals for generating a rotation resisting torque,
• sensor means for sensing the position of said pedals,
• computing means responsive to said sensing means for generating first, second, third and fourth control signals,
• stimulation means responsive to said first, second, third and fourth control signals for stimulating the iliac muscles and quadriceps muscles of said persons to cause rotation of said pedals against said resisting torque,
• first gain control means connected to said computing means for adjusting the amplitude of said first and second control signals,
• second gain control means connected to said computing means for adjusting the amplitude of said third and fourth control signals, and
• motive means for powering rotation of said pedals against said resisting torque during initiation and termination of a therapy procedure for said person.

Physical therapy method for a person having paralyzed legs comprising the steps of;

• applying electrical stimulation signals to the iliac and quadriceps muscles of said person to produce coordinated movement of said legs,
• impeding the movement of said legs,
• measuring the power output from said legs, and
• adjusting said stimulation signals to maintain said power output at a predetermined level.

Physical therapy method for a person having paralyzed legs comprising the steps of:

• applying transcutaneous stimulation electrodes over the right quadriceps, left quadriceps, right iliac and left iliac muscles of said person,
• applying first, second, third and fourth electrical stimulation signals to those of said electrodes which are placed respectively over said right quadriceps, left quadriceps, right iliac and left iliac muscles to create a pedaling moition by said legs,
• impeding the movement of said legs by a nominal low resistance,
• measuring the power output from said legs,
• measuring the pedaling position angle achieved by said legs,
• adjusting the amplitude of said first and second stimulation signals to maintain said power output at a predetermined level, and
• adjusting the timing of said stimulation signals in accordance with said position angle to coordinate said pedaling motion.

Apparatus for treating a paraylzed person comprising;

• stimulation means for stimulating the muscles of said person to produce cyclic coordinated movement of both legs,
• means for impeding the movement of said legs,
• means for indicating the power output from said legs, and
• means for adjusting said stimulation means to maintain said power output at a predetermined level.

A treatment system for a paralyzed person comprising:

• a pair of oppositely disposed pedals mounted for rotation about an axis,
• load means for generating a torque to resist rotation of said pedals,
• sensing means for sensing the position of said pedals and generating a corresponding sensing signal,
• computing means for generating a plurality of stimulation control signals under timing control of said sensing signal, and
• stimulation means responsive to said stimulation control signals for stimulating the legs of a paralyzed person to engage in cooperative pedalling motion against said pedals.