ActiGait system for functional electrical stimulation of the lower leg and foot

ActiGait system, used for functional electrical stimulation of the lower leg and foot, made by Otto Bock Healthcare Products, Austria, c.2010. System comprises a heel switch, implantable stimulator, antenna to be positioned over the implant and a control unit that can worn at the hip or carried in a pocket.

The ActiGait system is a partially implantable medical device for treatment of foot drop; a condition affecting a person’s ability to flex their toes or lift their foot that often occurs following a stroke. It works by stimulating the nerve that controls the lower muscles of the legs during walking. The implant delivers a small electrical current to this nerve, and is activated by an externally worn heel switch and control unit. The heel switch detects when the affected foot strikes the ground and switches off the current. When the heel is lifted again, it turns back on, causing the person to flex their foot upwards from the ankle (dorsiflexion).