Screen printed fabric electrode array for wearable functional electrical stimulation

摘要: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) activates nerves using currents, and is widely used in medical applications to assist movement of patients with central nervous system lesions. The recent emergence small electrode arrays enables greater muscle selectivity reduces fatigue compared the use traditional large electrodes; however existing fabrication techniques are expensive have limited flexibility comfort which limits patient uptake. This work presents a screen printed flexible breathable fabric array (FEA) consists four functional layers. Successful operation has been demonstrated by stimulating an optimised selection electrodes order achieve clinically relevant reference postures (‘pointing’, ‘pinch’ ‘open hand’). materials skin contact FEA cytotoxicity tested establish that they biocompatible. demonstrates potential for printable polymer realise comfortable, wearable cost effective systems healthcare applications.