Walkex - Functional Electrical Simulator
Specifications
- Walkex Master Size Walkex Controller Size – 110mm x 80mm x 25mm, 90mm x 64mm x 17mm
- Weight – 60 g
- Power Source – One 3.7 volt Li ion rechargeable battery
- Maximum Current – 300 mA at 500 ohm; 150 mA at 1 K ohm
- Maximum Voltage – 150 V
- Number of Modes – Upper Limb: Arm extension simultaneous, wrist open
close alternate, overlapping EMG Trigger CH1 CH2 Lower Limb: Mode 1: Channel 1 and 2 activate of heel off, Mode 2: Channel 1 and 2 activate of heel strike, Mode 3: Channel 1 ON heel off, Channel 2 ON heel strike, Mode 4: Channel 1 ON heel strike and Channel 2 ON heel off. - Additional Ex Modes – Simultaneous Alternate Overlapping
- Number of Channels – 2
- Duration of Ex. mode – 10 mins with auto switch off
- Idle time – 3 minutes auto shutdown
- Pulse Type – Asymmetrical Biphasic, adjustable
- Pulse Width – 300 -700 microseconds (Adjustable)
- Ramp up – 100 – 2000 ms
- Frequency Range – 10 – 120 Pulses Per Second (Adjustable)
- Maximum Stimulation Period in FES – 20 seconds and adjustable
Walkex 3035 Dual Channel/1035 Single Channel FES | Wired/Wireless rechargeable Heel and EMG sensor.
The Walnut Medical Walkex is an advanced neuroprostheses designed to help patients with neurological conditions accelerate their rehabilitation process and walk with improved balance and gait. Clinical evidence suggests that the Walnut Medical Walkex may significantly improve gait speed, symmetry and stride, and reduce falls. The Walkex accelerates recovery time to knee locking and reducesthe overall rehabilitation time period of a hemiparetic patient.Delivering low-level electronic stimulation to the nerve to enable foot dorsiflexion and accelerate motor recovery in addition to stimulation provided for quadriceps and hamstring, the system is small in size and easy to use. Unlike a rigid, uncomfortable ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), patients can wear the Walnut Medical Walkex under most clothing and with most shoes. The Walnut Medical Walkex may help your patients regain natural function for foot drop associated with:
• Traumatic brain injury
• Stroke
• Spinal cord injury
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cerebral Palsy
Features of Walkex:
a. Reduces atrophy: Neuro-muscular electrical stimulation for Thigh, lower leg muscles and arms.
b. Prevents Footdrop: The Walkex proprietary electronic control system provides precise Functional Electrical Stimulation to control the dorsiflexion.
c. Neuroplasticity: The Walkex exercise mode, with the capability to be programmed precisely for individual patient needs, the brain can relearn walking patterns and other movements which otherwise takes a very long time.
d. Reduces the changes of a fall: 70% of neuro disorder patients with foot drop experience a fall in the first 6 months which leads to greater disability. The Walkex reduces chances of a fall by over 50%.
e. Accelerated Recovery: The Walkex accelerates the recovery for acute stroke patients and enables knee locking in a much reduced time frame which enables the patient to live an independent life again.
f. Reduces Spasticity: Unlike AFO’s which doesn’t allow foot ankle movement leading to spasticity, the Walkex enables repetitive ankle muscle movements which reduces spasticity.
FOOT and WRIST DROP
Footdrop is a common symptom in hemiplegia and hemiparesis characterized by a lack of dorsiflexion during the swing phase of gait, resulting in short, shuffling strides. It has been shown that FES can be used to effectively compensate for the drop foot during the swing phase of the gait. The Walkex monitors muscle movement and leg movement in realtime, and delivers a stimulus to the common peroneal nerve, which results in contraction of the muscles responsible for dorsiflexion. There are currently a number of drop foot stimulators that use surface and implanted FES technologies. Drop foot stimulators have been used successfully with various patient populations, such as stroke, spinal cord
injury and multiple sclerosis. The term “orthotic effect” can be used to describe the immediate improvement in function observed when the individual switches on their FES device compared to unassisted walking. This improvement disappears as soon as the person switches off their FES device. In contrast, a “training” or “therapeutic effect” is used to
describe a long term improvement or restoration of function following a period of using the device which is still present even when the device is switched off. It has been hypothesized that this temporary improvement in function may be linked to a long term training or therapeutic effect.
Treatment Protocols:
– 10 minute exercise and walking sessions twice or thrice a day as programmed by the medical professional.
– For Stroke rehabilitation, treatment may be taken for 3 months to a year for best results.
