Two new devices pioneered to help patients with drop foot are supporting the recovery of stroke and brain injury patients around the world.
The L300 Go and L100 Go systems are wireless electronic devices which address issues experienced by patients whose ability to walk is inhibited.
The systems, supplied by Ottobock in conjunction with Bioness, have been designed to lift a person’s foot as they walk, improving their gait pattern, making it smoother and safer.
They can also help to promote muscle rehabilitation as part of the recovery process.
The L300 Go was first to come to market, in January 2018, with the L100 Go following later in the year. Patients around the world are benefitting from these new products.
The L300 Go
Both the L300 Go and L100 Go use 3D motion detection, movement sensors and a learning algorithm, to adapt to the users gait and ensure consistent stimulation.
However the L300 Go allows for independent control of inversion and eversion of the foot through the use of steering electrodes and also offers the potential to add the additional thigh unit to control knee flexion or hyperextension dependent on the users presentation.
Through the stimulation of the affected nerves and the muscles that they control, the L300 Go can initiate dorsiflexion as well as knee flexion or extension.
Both models were developed with the aim of enhancing a person’s ability to walk unaided, giving a greater level of independence and supporting ongoing recovery.
The big advance in Ottobock’s systems compared to other products in the market is that they are wireless; wired devices are more common, but they can be difficult for patients to apply on their own.
With wired systems, while they can be easily used by an experienced physiotherapist, it can be difficult for patients to replicate the required electrode position at home.
Users of FES want to be able to get up and ready as quickly as possible, the difficult set up of a wired FES device can lead to frustration and often to rejection of the system.
With the L100 Go and L300 Go, once the system is set up in a clinic by a medical professional, it can be used by the patient without assistance.
Its design reduces the time and effort required by other systems and, in being able to get it on quickly, it cuts the chances of users trying to walk unaided, which is often not in their best interest.
For professionals too, the software used in these models is very user-friendly and easy to negotiate.
It is easy to optimise a patient’s results and a person can be up and walking within five minutes of their session starting, which greatly increases the amount of time for their actual therapy.
The systems behind both models are continually being updated, with Bioness’ innovation leading to the products soon to be used in static cycling.
