Therapeutic electrical stimulation with BIONs: clinical trial report - 2nd joint conference of the IEEE engineering in medicine and biology society and the biomedical engineering society

摘要

We have been using microminiature, single-channel, leadless, RF-powered stimulators called BIONs, in three clinical trials to strengthen muscles weakened by disuse atrophy. Two of these studies are aimed at preventing and reversing shoulder subluxation in post-stroke patients. The third study is aimed at increasing knee function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Results from these studies (a total of 14 patient implanted) have shown that BIONs are easy for the physicians to implant and easy for the patients to use. Thresholds for recruitment have been stable over time periods as long as 20 months. Significant improvement was seen in the small number of patients under treatment.