Functional electrical stimulation often shortened to FES, is a technique that uses low levels of electrical current to activate nerves affected by paralysis resulting from various medical conditions and accidents. The list below names a few:
- Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
- Head related injuries
- Stroke or
- Neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
This type of treatment can restore the functions of the people with disabilities. It is sometimes referred to as neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).
Functional Electrical Stimulation is not a cure and cannot help everyone but may restore or improve function in nerves that control specific muscles or muscle groups.
There are two methods of using FES, having surface placed electrodes which stimulate through the skin to the muscles and nerves or by having a tiny implant with electrodes placed in the area affected, which then stimulates the nerves directly.
The use of FES to treat dropped foot is N.I.C.E (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) recognised, following the Interventional Procedure Guidance 278. To view this procedure, please download PDF below.
N.I.C.E Interventional Procedure Guidance 278
At present Finetech Medical produce two different implantable FES systems:
Finetech Brindley Bladder Control System STIMuSTEP Dropped Foot Stimulator
We are working closely with medical professionals to hopefully bring a new FES system to the market place to help patients with claw hand.
The STIMuGRIP system was a research project, and has been designed to restore control of the wrist and hand grasp action.
Following successful implantations and improvements across the whole range of assessment methods used for the three subjects involved in the trial, Finetech Medical are interested in hearing from clinical centres who would be interested in conducting a further clinical trial with the STIMuSTEP System in order to collect sufficient data to support a CE approval submission. Until CE approval has been achieved, this system is unavailabe to patients.
More Project related information about STIMuGRIP is available on the website
Functional electrical stimulation often shortened to FES, is a technique that uses low levels of electrical current to activate nerves affected by paralysis resulting from various medical conditions and accidents. The list below names a few:
- Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
- Head related injuries
- Stroke or
- Neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
This type of treatment can restore the functions of the people with disabilities. It is sometimes referred to as neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).
Functional Electrical Stimulation is not a cure and cannot help everyone but may restore or improve function in nerves that control specific muscles or muscle groups.
There are two methods of using FES, having surface placed electrodes which stimulate through the skin to the muscles and nerves or by having a tiny implant with electrodes placed in the area affected, which then stimulates the nerves directly.
The use of FES to treat dropped foot is N.I.C.E (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) recognised, following the Interventional Procedure Guidance 278. To view this procedure, please download PDF below.
N.I.C.E Interventional Procedure Guidance 278
At present Finetech Medical produce two different implantable FES systems:
Finetech Brindley Bladder Control System STIMuSTEP Dropped Foot Stimulator
We are working closely with medical professionals to hopefully bring a new FES system to the market place to help patients with claw hand.
The STIMuGRIP system was a research project, and has been designed to restore control of the wrist and hand grasp action.
Following successful implantations and improvements across the whole range of assessment methods used for the three subjects involved in the trial, Finetech Medical are interested in hearing from clinical centres who would be interested in conducting a further clinical trial with the STIMuSTEP System in order to collect sufficient data to support a CE approval submission. Until CE approval has been achieved, this system is unavailabe to patients.
More Project related information about STIMuGRIP is available on the website