Worldwide nearly 2,000 patients are using FES devices. The NIH's Dr. William Heetderks cautions that the number of eligible patients is small. I think reestablishing neural connections is going to happen,'' he says. It uses sacral root nerve stimulation to deliver 20 milliamps of current using the S2, S3 route.
Patients flick a switch to release the bladder.
With it patients can close the hand and grasp objects. Freehand requires a four-hour procedure and works for a C5, C6 level injury. The ideal patients are motivated to use their limbs and have good range of motion and electrically excitable muscles without extensive peripheral nerve lesions. Vocare also needs availability of excitable muscles and can be used by paraplegics or quadriplegics. Patients can use an external urine-collection device, and those who have the ability to transfer can use a toilet.