Controller unit for a functional electrical stimulation (FES) orthotic system

A functional electrical stimulation (FES) orthotic system for facilitating a gait of a user, the FES orthotic system comprising:

• a controller unit comprising a controller processor and at least one sensor, the controller processor configured to:
• receive a foot orientation indicator for a foot of the user, the foot orientation indicator corresponding to an angular position of the foot relative to a reference axis, the reference axis being a longitudinal axis of the user in an initial state;
• receive, from the at least one sensor, a body inclination indicator for the user, the body inclination indicator corresponding to a body position relative to the reference axis;
• receive, from the at least one sensor, an acceleration indicator for the user:
• determine a motion state based on the foot orientation indicator and the body inclination indicator, the motion state indicating a movement status of the user;
• identify the motion state is a fallen state when the acceleration indicator exceeds a drop acceleration threshold and the body inclination indicator exceeds a drop inclination threshold;
• identify the motion state is an active state when the acceleration indicator indicates that the user is not stationary and is less than the drop acceleration threshold;
• and
• define signal parameters for a stimulation signal based on at least the motion state, the stimulation signal being applied to the user to facilitate the gait of the user.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions executable on a processor of a device for adapting the processor to implement a method of facilitating a gait of a user with a functional electrical stimulation (FES) orthotic system, wherein the instructions comprise, at the device:

• receiving a foot orientation indicator for a foot of the user, the foot orientation indicator corresponding to an angular position of the foot relative to a reference axis, the reference axis being a longitudinal axis of the user in an initial state;
• receiving a body inclination indicator for the user, the body inclination indicator corresponding to a body position relative to the reference axis;
• receiving an acceleration indicator for the user;
• determining a motion state based on the foot orientation indicator and the body inclination indicator, the motion state indicating a movement status of the user;
• identifying the motion state is a fallen state when the acceleration indicator exceeds a drop acceleration threshold and the body inclination indicator exceeds a drop inclination threshold;
• identifying the motion state is an active state when the acceleration indicator indicates that the user is not stationary and is less than the drop acceleration threshold;
• and
• defining signal parameters for a stimulation signal based on at least the motion state, the stimulation signal being applied to the user for facilitating the gait of the user.