Due to a heridiary neurological disorder (HSP), I decided to create a device, that could assist in proper muscle activation during activities such as running. I named it the Active Muscle Stimulator.

The device works by sensing movements via a small accelerometer/gyroscope – in essence supplying an endless list of 6 dimensional vectors. An algorithm in a small computer can learn how to translate movement patterns into muscle activation, and the device has the ability to generate signals similar to those in the nervous system, which activates the appropriate muscles via electrodes attached at the respective muscle motor points.

Finding the so-called motorpoint for the Tibialis Anterior muscles.

The Active Muscle Stimulator (AMS) is similar to devices known as EMS (Electronic Muscle Stimulator), NMES (Neuromuscular Electronic Stimulator), FES (Functional Electronic Stimulation) and even TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation), but I was unable to find an existing device out there, which could enable me to run again. I decided on the name Active Muscle Stimulator both because I am very active while using it, and because it is actively listening to my movements for determining when to activate muscles.

Active Muscle Stimulator is quite different from other electronic muscle activation devices, in that it has the ability to learn how to translate body movements into muscle activations. It is somewhat similar to an eletronic drop foot correction device, but that device cannot learn new tricks.

Prototype

I created a prototype machine in February for the purpose of testing how far I could come with standard components from Amazon. It quickly turned out that the machine enabled me to run again, and I then decided to figure out if improvements could be made to the design (smaller and better). As I have no commercial interests in this machine, I decided on sharing the blueprints for the resulting machine along with the software I had developed for powering the device.

The prototype Active Muscle Stimulator, which is built into a belt. The left side contains a Raspberry Pi 2 B with two HAT extension boards, while the right side contains a large battery and a TENS unit. It is not exactly practical, but it works.

I have described the process of creating the prototype here Active Muscle Stimulator Background.

Plan

The aim is to finalize the release version of the device along with blueprints and a few instruction videos by July 2020.

The goal would be enabling anyone to build their own device for a total component price of around $150.

When the work on the release version has completed, I will probably spent some time collaborating with other creative people on adapting the device in various ways, such as enabling support for additional hardware of various kinds. But mostly, I hope to be busy running a lot.