Title :
A versatile microprocessor-based multichannel stimulator for skeletal muscle cardiac assist
Author :
Cheever, Erik A. ; Thompson, Dirk R. ; Cmolik, Brian L. ; Santamore, William P. ; George, David T.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Eng., Swarthmore Coll., PA, USA
Abstract :
A versatile, microprocessor-based stimulator for skeletal muscle cardiac assist (SMCA) has been designed, constructed, and used in several studies. The stimulator uses multiple bipolar electrodes to deliver arbitrarily specified electrical stimulus sequences to three nerve branches of the latissimus dorsi muscle. The electrodes are electrically isolated to effect regional stimulation of the muscle. The width, amplitude, and interpulse interval of each pulse in the stimulus sequence are independently variable, and the three channels are independently programmable, allowing a wide variety of stimulus patterns. Battery powered units have been used in studies for up to one year. In this paper, the stimulator and sample applications in SMCA are described.
Keywords :
biomedical electronics; cardiology; computerised instrumentation; muscle; neurophysiology; prosthetics; 1 y; arbitrarily specified electrical stimulus sequences; battery powered units; electrically isolated electrodes; independently programmable channels; interpulse interval; latissimus dorsi muscle; multiple bipolar electrodes; nerve branches; pulse amplitude; pulse width; regional muscular stimulation; skeletal muscle cardiac assist; stimulus sequence; versatile microprocessor-based multichannel stimulator; Artificial heart; Batteries; Cardiology; Drugs; Electrodes; Fatigue; Medical treatment; Muscles; Space vector pulse width modulation; Surgery; Analog-Digital Conversion; Animals; Aorta, Thoracic; Dogs; Electric Conductivity; Electric Stimulation; Electrocardiography; Electrodes; Electromyography; Equipment Design; Heart-Assist Devices; Microcomputers; Muscle, Skeletal; Software; Therapy, Computer-Assisted; Transducers; User-Computer Interface;
Journal_Title :
Biomedical Engineering, IEEE Transactions on