Method and apparatus for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation

A method for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation to an agonist/antagonist muscle pair to move a limb about a joint, which method comprises:

• providing a device for generating a first pattern of neuromuscular electrical stimulation pulses for output through a first channel to a first pair of electrodes attached to an agonist muscle of an agonist/antagonist muscle pair and a second pattern of neuromuscular stimulation pulses, different from the first pattern, for output through a second channel to a second pair of electrodes attached to an antagonist muscle of the agonist/antagonist muscle pair;
• automatically generating, for each burst period of a plurality of burst periods, a first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses for transmission through the first pair of electrodes to the agonist muscle:
• (i) at a constant first intensity level for a period sufficient to initiate contraction of the agonist muscle;
• (ii) consecutive to the period of the first intensity level, at a constant second intensity level, less than the first intensity level, for a period sufficient to continue contraction of the agonist muscle, the second intensity level period consecutive to the first intensity level period;
• (iii) consecutive to the period of the second intensity level, at a constant third intensity level, greater than the second intensity level, for a period sufficient to complete contraction of the agonist muscle, the third intensity level period consecutive to the second intensity level period;
• automatically generating, for each burst period of the plurality of burst periods, a second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses for transmission through the second pair of electrodes to the antagonist muscle:
• (i) at a constant fourth intensity level for a period sufficient to reduce the acceleration of the limb;
• (ii) consecutive to the period of the fourth intensity level, at a constant fifth intensity level, less than the fourth intensity level, for a period sufficient to regulate the movement of the limb, the fifth intensity level period consecutive to the fourth intensity level period;
• (iii) consecutive to the period of the fifth intensity level, at a constant sixth intensity level, greater than the fifth intensity level for a period sufficient to stop the movement of the limb, the sixth intensity level period consecutive to the fifth intensity level period;
• wherein each burst period of the plurality of burst periods:
• (i) represents a predetermined period of time during which electrical stimulation is applied to the agonist/antagonist muscle pair;
• and
• (ii) includes generating the first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses during a first burst period and generating the second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses during a second burst period that begins after the beginning of the first burst period and ends no later than the end of the first burst period.

A device for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation to an agonist/antagonist muscle pair to move a limb about a joint, said device comprising a main simulator controller and a pulse pattern generating circuitry in communication with the main stimulator controller, wherein the main stimulator controller is configured to control said pulse pattern generating circuitry to:

• automatically generate, for each burst period of a plurality of burst periods, a first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses for transmission through a first pair of electrodes to the agonist muscle:
• (i) at a constant first intensity level for a period sufficient to initiate contraction of the agonist muscle;
• (ii) at a constant second intensity level, less than the first intensity level, for a period sufficient to continue contraction of the agonist muscle, the second intensity level period consecutive to the first intensity level period;
• (iii) at a constant third intensity level, greater than the second intensity level, for a period sufficient to complete contraction of the agonist muscle, the third intensity level period consecutive to the second intensity level period;
• automatically generate, for each burst period of the plurality of burst periods, a second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses, different from the first pattern, for transmission through the second pair of electrodes to the antagonist muscle:
• (i) at a constant fourth intensity level for a period sufficient to reduce the acceleration of the limb;
• (ii) at a constant fifth intensity level, less than the fourth intensity level, for a period sufficient to regulate the movement of the limb, the fifth intensity level period consecutive to the fourth intensity level period;
• (iii) at a constant sixth intensity level, greater than the fifth intensity level, for a period sufficient to stop the movement of the limb, the sixth intensity level period consecutive to the fifth intensity level period;
• wherein each burst period of the plurality of burst periods:
• (i) represents a predetermined period of time during which electrical stimulation is applied to the agonist/antagonist muscle pair, and
• (ii) includes generating the first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses during a first burst period and generating the second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses during a second burst period that begins after the beginning of the first burst period and ends no later than the end of the first burst period.