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. 2022 May 8;19(1):45.
doi: 10.1186/s12984-022-01014-6.

User-centered design and spatially-distributed sequential electrical stimulation in cycling for individuals with paraplegia

Roberto S Baptista  1   2 , Marina C C Moreira  3   4 , Lucas D M Pinheiro  3 , Tiago R Pereira  3 , Gabriel G Carmona  3 , Joao P D Freire  3 , Julia A I Bastos  5 , Antonio Padilha Lanari Bo  6
Affiliations

User-centered design and spatially-distributed sequential electrical stimulation in cycling for individuals with paraplegia

Roberto S Baptista et al. J Neuroeng Rehabil. .

Abstract

Background: In this work, we share the enhancements made in our system to take part in the CYBATHLON 2020 Global Edition Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Bike Race. Among the main improvements, firstly an overhaul, an overhaul of the system and user interface developed with User-centered design principles with remote access to enable telerehabilitation. Secondly, the implementation and experimental comparison between the traditional single electrode stimulation (SES) and spatially distributed sequential stimulation (SDSS) applied for FES Cycling.

Methods: We report on the main aspects of the developed system. To evaluate the user perception of the system, we applied a System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire. In comparing SDSS and SES, we collected data from one subject in four sessions, each simulating one race in the CYBATHLON format.

Results: User perception measured with SUS indicates a positive outcome in the developed system. The SDSS trials were superior in absolute and average values to SES regarding total distance covered and velocity. We successfully competed in the CYBATHLON 2020 Global Edition, finishing in 6th position in the FES Bike Race category.

Conclusions: The CYBATHLON format induced us to put the end-user in the center of our system design principle, which was well perceived. However, further improvements are required if the intention is to progress to a commercial product. FES Cycling performance in SDSS trials was superior when compared to SES trials, indicating that this technique may enable faster and possibly longer FES cycling sessions for individuals with paraplegia. More extensive studies are required to assess these aspects.

Keywords: CYBATHLON; FES cycling; Functional electrical stimulation; Spatially-distributed sequential electrial stimulation; User-centered design.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
FES cycling system employed in this work. In a, a picture of the setup during the CYBATHLON 2020 is shown, while in b, a diagram of the control system is depicted
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
FES cycling system user interface, including a pilot point-of-view perspective and b its functional diagram
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
FES cycling system, including a PC graphical interface b remote access representation
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
The crank angle interval for stimulation (a), current amplitude profile for the single electrode stimulation (SES) as well as spatially distributed sequential stimulation (SDSS) (b) and electrode placement for SES and SDSS (c).The current amplitude profile for the single electrode stimulation (SES) as well as spatially distributed sequential stimulation (SDSS) and the respective angular interval
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Experimental data from the “warm up” stages, i.e., stage (2), in an experimental study to compare SES and SDSS. a illustrate the pre-programmed FES applied, and b and c depict crank speed and trike speed, respectively. The vertical lines indicate the moment when manual assistance was removed
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Experimental data from the “race” stages, i.e., stage (5), in an experimental study to compare SES and SDSS. a illustrate the pre-programmed FES applied, and b and c depict crank speed and trike speed, respectively. The vertical lines indicate when manual assistance was removed, which occurred 30 s after race start in all trials. The total distance without manual assistance is also depicted
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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