Patent ID: 7337007

Claim:
A surface neuroprosthetic device for functional electrical stimulation having a locating system for locating the device on to a conical limb segment of a user, the device comprising: (a) an at least semi-rigid exoskeleton shell for encompassing at least a portion of the conical limb segment; (b) at least one electrical stimulation electrode operatively connected with said shell, said electrode adapted so as to make electrical contact with a surface of the conical limb segment, so as to effect functional electrical stimulation (FES) of at least one muscle of the limb segment; and (c) a locator, operatively connected with said shell, for determining a positioning of said shell relative to the conical limb segment, such that said electrode is positioned near an activating point of said muscle, said locator including: (i) a mechanism for determining circumferential positioning of said exoskeleton shell on the conical limb segment, and (ii) a mechanism for determining longitudinal positioning of said exoskeleton shell on the conical limb segment, and (iii) at least semi-rigid flaps extending outside a projection of a large face of said shell towards a limb portion of the limb segment, said flaps for locating said exoskeleton shell on each side of said limb portion, wherein the conical limb segment is selected from the group consisting of an upper arm and a lower leg, and wherein said limb portion is selected from the group consisting of an elbow and a knee.