2 research outputs found
Modulation of electrical stimulation applied to human physiology and clinical diagnostic
The use, manipulation and application of electrical currents, as a controlled interference mechanism in the human body system, is currently a strong source of motivation to researchers in areas such as clinical, sports, neuroscience, amongst others. In electrical stimulation (ES), the current applied to tissue is traditionally controlled concerning stimulation
amplitude, frequency and pulse-width. The main drawbacks of the transcutaneous
ES are the rapid fatigue induction and the high discomfort induced by the non-selective
activation of nervous fibers.
There are, however, electrophysiological parameters whose response, like the response
to different stimulation waveforms, polarity or a personalized charge control, is still
unknown. The study of the following questions is of great importance:
What is the physiological effect of the electric pulse parametrization concerning
charge, waveform and polarity? Does the effect change with the clinical condition of
the subjects?
The parametrization influence on muscle recruitment can retard fatigue onset?
Can parametrization enable fiber selectivity, optimizing the motor fibers recruitment
rather than the nervous fibers, reducing contraction discomfort?
Current hardware solutions lack flexibility at the level of stimulation control and
physiological response assessment. To answer these questions, a miniaturized, portable
and wireless controlled device with ES functions and full integration with a generic
biosignals acquisition platform has been created. Hardware was also developed to provide complete freedom for controlling the applied current with respect to the waveform,
polarity, frequency, amplitude, pulse-width and duration.
The impact of the methodologies developed is successfully applied and evaluated in
the contexts of fundamental electrophysiology, psycho-motor rehabilitation and neuromuscular disorders diagnosis.
This PhD project was carried out in the Physics Department of Faculty of Sciences and
Technology (FCT-UNL), in straight collaboration with PLUX - Wireless Biosignals S.A. company and co-funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT); PLUX - Wireless Biosignals, S.A.; FCT-UNL- CEFITE