Wright & Filippis Now Offers Wireless FES Treatment of Foot Drop: The NESS L300™

Wright & Filippis is excited to announce that it is now among select facilities in the country working with Bioness Inc. to offer a new, sophisticated, yet user-friendly functional electrical stimulation (FES) treatment for the rehabilitation of foot drop: the wireless NESS L300 Foot Drop System.

Wright & Filippis recently teamed up with the California medical device company to help patients recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and incomplete spinal cord injury achieve more mobility, independence, function and freedom.

“The NESS L300 accelerates and compliments our traditional therapy,” says Pam Filippis, Director of Orthotics. “We are excited about incorporating this technology into our acute and outpatient rehab settings. We can maximize rehabilitation by using the device between therapy sessions, and we even encourage patients to purchase the NESS L300 for home use.”

The NESS L300 System is at the forefront of innovation in FES therapy for foot drop. The system is wireless, portable, and programmable and the therapist can fine-tune the settings while the patient is actually walking. The system has three components: a gait sensor worn in the shoe, a wireless stimulating leg cuff worn below the knee and a clinician-programmed control unit. When the gait sensor detects “heel off,” it sends a message to the leg cuff, which then stimulates the leg muscles to lift the foot accordingly. The advanced Intelli-Sense Gait Sensor™ technology of the NESS L300 Foot Drop System allows patients to achieve a more-normalized gait on changing terrains and at varying speeds.

Wright & Filippis soon will host several educational programs on the NESS L300 Foot Drop System. For more information, contact your local Wright & Filippis facility and ask to speak with any of our certified orthotists.

Is the NESS L300 right for me?
The NESS L300 is for people who have foot drop because of these medical conditions:

• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cerebral palsy
• Incomplete spinal cord injury
• Other neurological disorders of the central nervous system
  (e.g., Parkinson’s Disease)

Who cannot use a muscle electrical stimulator?
The NESS L300 is not for people with peripheral nerve disease or injury such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome. The NESS L300 should not be used by people with certain types of pacemakers or implants, or people who have fractures, dislocations, or cancer in the leg. Your doctor can tell you whether the NESS L300 is right for you.

How the NESS L300 Works
The NESS L300 has three main parts that use wireless communication to "talk" to each other.

1.  Comfortable, lightweight Functional Stimulation cuff
   
   • The leg cuff is a small, light-weight device that fits just below the knee and contains electrodes designed to place stimulation where it helps you most.
     
2.  Innovative Intelli Sense Gait Sensor™
   
   • The gait sensor attaches to your shoe and lets the leg cuff know if your heel is on the ground or in the air.
     
3. Wireless, portable Control Unit
   
   • The hand-held remote control lets you adjust the level of stimulation and turn the unit on and off.
   • After the initial fitting by your clinician, you just put the cuff on and you are set to go.