Hybrid Strategies: Neuromodulation and Exoskeletons

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) is a recent and promising approach that has the potential to promote improved motor control for both upper and lower limbs, voluntary movement, and spinal cord modulation for various pathologies. However, the setup for performing the protocol requires specialized knowledge for the application of the electrode position on the vertebrae in the spinal cord and stimulation current.This setup depends on the analysis of the electromyographic (EMG) responses of the muscles. In this context, aiming to facilitate clinical applications and improve the configuration of stimulation parameters for each patient, the objective of this work is to develop an multi-site and automated tSCS setup combining a set of electrodes positioned on the vertebrae of the spinal cord, synchronized EMG recordings and an automated stimulation algorithm (protocol). The protocol aims to analyze the selectivity of the tSCS, test electrode locations and stimulation amplitudes in real time and to classify the posterior root muscle reflexes nos musculos dos membros inferiores.

Activities:
– tSCS and electrophysiological tests
– Development of an automated calibration algorithm using EMG and tSCS
– Experiments and data analysis

Requirements:

Project is 20% hardware, 40% software, 20% experimentation
Knowledge in programming, Machine learning, data analysis. Experience with Qt

Reference:

“Algorithms for Automated Calibration of Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation to Facilitate Clinical Applications” Salchow-Hömmen et al. 2021

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) is a recent and promising approach that has the potential to promote improved motor control for both upper and lower limbs, voluntary movement, and spinal cord modulation for various pathologies. However, when compared to more invasive protocols, tSCS may not present the same selectivity in muscle recruitment and, consequently, limit motor control benefits. In this context, the objective of this work is to analyze muscle recruitment according to the variation of stimulator parameters and the position of the active electrode in the spinal cord. In other words, we aim to develop a protocol for stimulation of the spinal cord with different channels and to analyze the correlation of the stimulator parameters with the extension and flexion movements of the main muscles involved in gait. This project involves conducting experiments and developing techniques for tSCS during walking, with the aim of achieving greater selectivity in the recruitment of flexor and extensor muscles. This will be done by analyzing the electromyographic (EMG) response elicited by stimulation of a given position of the electrode on the vertebra and different parameters of the stimulator during gait.

Activities:
– tSCS and electrophysiological tests
– Development of an automated calibration algorithm using EMG and tSCS
– Experiments and data analysis

Requirements:

Project is 40% hardware, 40% software, 20% experimentation
Knowledge in programming, Machine learning, data analysis.