Three parameters optimizing closed-loop control in sequential segmental neuromuscular stimulation

In conventional dynamic myoplasties, the farce generation is poorly control led. This causes unnecessary fatigue of the transposed/transplanted electri cally stimulated muscles and causes damage to the involved tissues. We intr oduced sequential segmental neuromuscular stimulation (SSNS) to reduce musc le fatigue by allowing part of the muscle to rest periodically while the ot her parts work. Despite this improvement, we hypothesize that fatigue could be further reduced in some applications of dynamic myoplasty if the muscle s were made to contract according to need. The first necessary step is to g ain appropriate control over the contractile activity of the dynamic myopla sty. Therefore, closed-loop control was tested on a sequentially stimulated neosphincter to strive for the best possible control over the amount of ge nerated pressure. A selection of parameters was validated for optimizing co ntrol. We concluded that the frequency of corrections, the threshold for co rrections, and the transition time are meaningful parameters in the control ling algorithm of the closed-loop control in a sequentially stimulated myop lasty.