To find out more about our products and services,
please contact:
Regain your mobility
after stroke
ActiGait® the implantable Functional Electrical
Stimulation (FES) system for drop foot
Otto Bock Healthcare Plc
32 Pasonage Road · Englefield Green · Egham, Surrey
TW20 0LD
Tel. +44 (0)1784 744 915
“Now I have the confidence
to go out, dress the way I
want and I feel normal again.”
Lida, stroke at 33
Manufacturer:
Neurodan A/S
Member of the Otto Bock Group
Sofiendalsvej 85 · DK-9200 Aalborg SV · Denmark
Distributor:
nstim Services GmbH
Member of the Otto Bock Group
Brehmstrasse 16 · 1110 Vienna · Austria
For more information visit:
www.dropfoot.co.uk
[email protected]
© Ottobock · 646D723=GB_M-04-1510 · Technical changes reserved.
ActiGait® is an active implant and medical device provided with the CE
mark in compliance with the directives 90/385/EEC and 1999/5/EC.
You have been informed by your specialist about the use of ActiGait®
for drop foot. This brochure provides a brief summary of information for
ActiGait® system. FES is not suitable for all patients with drop foot.
Only a clinician can advise in detail about the treatment, contraindications, and possible risks or side effects. Please familiarise yourself with
the product information and read the instructions, which contain
information about special precautions and possible adverse events.
FES may offer a variety
of benefits
Living with Drop Foot
When walking turns into a daily challenge.
After a stroke, many people suffer from a weakening condition known as drop foot. This condition is defined by the
inability to lift the foot and toes correctly when walking,
and there is a tendency for people to scuff their toes along
the ground. Drop foot is the result of missing signals from
the brain to the nerves which are responsible for lifting the
foot. Those affected have to concentrate hard on every step.
The effort involved and the feeling of uncertainty when
walking can result in a reluctance to resume previous activities, and in some cases can cause social isolation.
Lifting the foot at just the right moment
1
2
Antenna
3
Stimulator body
(implanted)
Making it possible to walk longer distances
Walking requires less effort and concentration
Mobility is increased
An improved sense of stability and more confidence
in everyday life
4
Cuff electrode
(implanted)
5
Heel switch
Further benefits of ActiGait®
ActiGait® is based on the principle of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). The muscles that lift the foot are
stimulated with an electrical impulse, which is synchronised to your walking pace. The risk of catching your toes
on uneven ground is reduced, thereby improving your gait
pattern and speed. Walking becomes less tiring: a confident step forward towards a more independent lifestyle.
A long-term solution
• Unlike a surface electrode solution, there is no
cuff or individual electrode to put on, take off, or
place precisely in position, in order to ensure
optimum functioning
• No electrodes to change
Comfortable
Who might be suitable?
How does ActiGait® work?
ActiGait® is suitable for many stroke survivors, but there
are also some exceptions, for example if the nerves in
the leg are damaged, or if the ankle cannot be moved or
stabilised sufficiently. Only specialised physicians and
clinics* are able to assess the suitability of ActiGait® for
each individual patient on a case-by-case basis.
Complete our online pre-screening questionnaire*
or contact us today to arrange an initial consultation.
01784 744 900, [email protected]
* visit: www.dropfoot.co.uk
A surgeon inserts a small implant into the thigh and connects it to the common peroneal nerve during a surgical
procedure. The other components are external and easy
to wear.
When the foot is raised, a wireless heel switch 5 detects
this and triggers the control unit 1 to stimulate.
The stimulus is transmitted to the implant 3 by the
antenna 2 . The implanted electrode 4 , when stimulated, activates the muscles of the lower leg to lift the foot
and toes properly during walking.
Stepping towards a more rewarding life
Improving walking speed and pattern
NICE interventional procedure guideline supports the
use of FES for drop foot due to upper motor neuron
lesions: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg278
ActiGait®
A precise stimulus for more independence
Control unit
Straightforward and unobtrusive
• No skin or soft tissue reactions, which are possible
from surface electrodes
• Highly reduced discomfort due to the electrical
sensations that can occur with surface stimulators
(unlike a surface electrode, the signals are transmitted directly from the implant to the nerve, rather
than through the skin)
Discreet
• Get a more discreet way to access FES
Customised stimulation
• With a multichannel cuff electrode implanted around
the nerve, it is possible to stimulate the area of the
nerve that provides the most balanced foot lift.