Patent ID: 7149582

Claim:
A scanning electrode system for a neuroprosthetic device, the system for providing facile adjustment and fine-tuning of a spatial distribution of a local electrical stimulation field across a scanning electrode, by a system user, the scanning electrode system comprising: (a) at least one scanning electrode for the neuroprosthetic device, said scanning electrode for performing functional electrical stimulation of at least one muscle of a limb of the user, wherein within a single electrode of said at least one scanning electrode there is disposed at least a first electrically conductive area and a second electrically conductive area, said electrically conductive areas separated by an electrically insulating region for insulating therebetween; (b) a distribution mechanism for dividing a current between said electrically conductive areas so as to produce the spatial distribution of the electrical stimulation field across said electrically conductive areas, said distribution mechanism for operative connection to a muscle stimulator providing electrical stimulation to the scanning electrode system, and (c) a control mechanism for controlling said distribution mechanism, so as to effect a smooth and continuous adjustment of the spatial distribution of the electrical stimulation field.