Design of an insole embedded foot pressure sensor controlled FES system for foot drop in stroke patients

Abstract

A real-time detection of the foot pressure sensor with feedback controlled functional electrical stimulation (FES) system for the correction of foot drop in hemiplegics has been developed and tested with a volunteer. The foot pressure signals from subject were utilised as modulating signal and controlling the stimulation amplitude of the FES system. These foot pressure detectors are the essential component of a cycle-to-cycle controller for FES gait. It will determine the foot pressure when the affected leg of subject at stance phase of gait cycle. The controller then will assess the pressure on the sensors and serve as a real time controlled for adjustment of the intensity of electrical stimulation, which is to be used for the next gait cycle while the subject is walking using FES device. At the same time the heel switch was used to measure the gait parameters such as stride length and walking speed during walking experiments, proved the effectiveness of the system.