Videos - innoSTEP-WL

The foot drop system innoSTEP-WL is a medical devide for electrostimulation: It can be prescribed by your treating physician and provided by your health ensurances as remedy in case of weak foot dorsiflexion. innoSTEP-WL is fitted to the affected leg – owing to its low-profile design it also fits under trousers – and then sends electrical impulses to the peroneal nerve when walking. The nerve converts the stimulus into a cue for the muscles – the foot is lifted during the swing phase of the stride. Advanced sensor technology and intelligent algorithms monitor and analyse the gait. The optimal time for triggering the stimulation of the nerve is determined on the basis of measured parameters such as acceleration, leg angle of inclination and stride length.

Testing foot drop system innoSTEP-WL

The patient suffers from a mutual weak foot dorsiflexion, which affects her gait pattern and posture. Every step requires the utmost attention, and is associated with a high risk of tripping or falling. The patient can not lift or roll her feet while walking, the unnatural walking pattern leads to pain in hips and spine. As soon as the wireless foot drop system innoSTEP-WL is applied and turned on, the gait pattern directly improves. The strides become longer and more secure, the risk of tripping reduces. The natural movement and gait pattern, which become possible thanks to the innoSTEP-WL, also reduce the stress symptoms on spine and hips.

Testing foot drop system innoSTEP-WL on stairs

Due to the mutual weak foot dorsiflexion, the patient can not bend her knees, which makes climbings stairs very difficult. While taking the steps, she has to lean heavily on the handhold, which puts further stress on hips and spine. The wireless foot drop system innoSTEP-WL directly provides remedy and enables the patient to walk naturally. As a consequence she can bend her knees and easily climb the stairs. This also improves the posture and provides relief for hip and spine.

Scope of delivery

The wireless foot drop system innoSTEP-WL can improve the gait pattern in case of weak foot dorsiflexion enormously. The system is directly delivered to you – in this video, we show the scope of delivery in detail.
 
The delivery contains:

• innoSTEP-WL foot drop system
• Remote control
• Power supply unit and cable
• Water atomizer
• Safety strap
• User manual
• Flyer

Removing the cuff from stimulation unit

The wireless foot drop system innoSTEP-WL can directly compensate the weak foot dorsiflexion and is very easy to maintain. The cuff is fixed to the stimulation unit via press studs and can be removed easily if it is to be washed or replaced.
 
In order to achieve an optimal stimulation and natural gait pattern, the cuff with integrated electrodes allows an extensive stimulation of peroneal nerve and shin muscles. Additionally, the correct application on the affected leg is very easy. To ensure hygienic wearing comfort, the cuff should be washed regulary. For this, please choose a mild, unparfumed washing agent and manually wash the cuff with 30° warm water.
 
To detach the cuff from the stimulation unit, please follow the following steps:

• Feel with your fingers for the press studs beneath the tissue electrodes and carefully open them with your fingernail.
• Open the velcro fastener, which attaches the cuff to the stimulation unit.
• Carefully pull the stimulation unit out of the cuff.

Attaching the cuff to the stimulation unit

The wireless foot drop system innoSTEP-WL as remedy for weak foot dorsiflexion is very easy to handle and to maintain. The cuff, which is attached to the leg, and the stimulation unit are connected via press studs.
 
The press studs not only fix the cuff to the stimulation unit, they also forward the electrical signal to the tissue electrodes. Therefore, the cuff needs to be correctly attached again, in order to ensure the functionality of the device.
 
To attach the cuff to the stimulation unit, please follow the following steps:

• Insert the tongue of the stimulation unit carefully into the respective opening of the cuff.
• Make sure that the press studs located on the tongue face the tissue electrodes.
• Insert the tongue of the stimulation unit completely into the cuff, so that the unit matches the yellow outline on the cuff.
• Feel with your fingers for the press studs beneath the tissue electrodes and close them by pushing firmly – you should hear a clicking noise.

Connecting adhesive electrodes

The wireless foot drop system innoSTEP-WL for compensating weak foot dorsiflexion can also be used with adhesive electrodes. For this, the respective cuff needs to be attached to the stimulation unit – recognizable by the red and black marks on the inner side. If you used the cuff with integrated tissue electrodes before, you first need to remove this from the stimulation unit (see also Removing the cuff).
 
The adhesive electrodes are directly attached to the skin and allow a pinpoint stimulation of the peroneal nerve. After connecting the cuff, attach the electrodes to the stimulation unit.
 
Please follow the following steps:

• Insert the tongue of the stimulation unit carefully into the respective opening of the cuff.
• Make sure that the press studs located on the tongue face the tissue electrodes.
• Insert the tongue of the stimulation unit completely into the cuff, so that the unit matches the yellow outline on the cuff.
• You should be able to see the press studs through the holes on the inner side of the cuff.
• Attach the adhesive electrodes to the press studs. The black one to the black marked (negative cathode) and the red electrode to the red marked stud (positive anode).
• When connecting the electrodes to the press studs, you should be able to hear a clicking noise.
• Rememeber to remove the protective foil from the electrodes before you use them and make sure to clean your skin from lotions, dirt etc. before attaching the electrodes.
• If you do not use the electrodes, attach them to the protecive foil and store them in a cool and dark place.

Applying the cuff on the leg

The foot drop system innoSTEP-WL basically constits of a stimulation unit and a cuff, which is attached below the knee on the affected leg.
The cuff with the intrgrated tissue electrodes allows an extensive stimulation of peroneal nerve and shin muscle, while offering high wearing comfort.
 
Applying the cuff on the leg ist very easy:

• Before applying the cuff, use the water atomizer to moisten the tissue electrodes troughoutly, in order to ensure the conductivity. Spread the water carefully with your fingers.
• Sit down while applying the cuff. It should be placed below the knee of the affected leg and adjusted to the shinbone.
• The yellow position mark on the upper edge should point to the middle of the kneecap.
• Close the magnetic enclosure of the cuff - this is also possible singlehandedly.
• Use the velcro fastener to adjust the width of the cuff. It should sit tight on the leg, without cutting in.
• When detaching the innoSTEP-WL from the leg, you should let it dry before storing it in the device case.

Attaching adhesive electrodes on the leg

The wireless foot drop system innoSTEP-WL can also be used with adhesive electrodes. After connecting the correct cuff, we will show you the correct position of the gel-electrodes.
 
Before you attach the gel electrodes, make sure to diligently clean the skin in order to remove lotions, dirt or lipids. The adhesive electrodes are placed on the head of the fibula and the tibia muscle:

• Detach the electrode from the stimulation unit beforehand.
• Feel for the head of the fibula – this is the position of the black electrode (negative cathode)
• The red electrode (positive anode) is placed on the tibia muscle
• Connect the electrodes to the stimulation unit. The black electrode is connected to the black marked press stud, the red electrode to the red one.
• Apply the cuff below the knee of the affected leg and make sure, that the yellow position mark points upward to the center of the knee cap.
• Close the magnetic closure and use the velcro strap to adjust the width of the cuff. It should sit tight on the leg, without cutting in.
• When not using them, put the electrodes back on the protection foil and store them in a cool, dark place.

Training mode

The training mode is an additional function, which is suitable if the gait mode cannot be used regularly or daily. The training aims at building up the foot, shin and calf muscles as well as promoting the neuronal remodelling.
 
During the training the peroneal nerve is stimulated in fixed intervals. The affected leg should rest high or stand on the ground without weight on it.

• If you use the cuff with integrated electrodes, make sure to moisten them throughoutly beforehand.
• To turn it on, push and hold the on/off button on front of the stimulation unit for a second.
• In order to turn the remote control on, push and hold the on/off button on the side of the remote control for a second. It automatically connects to the innoSTEP-WL.
• The walking figure indicates the gait mode, the sitting figure indicates the training mode.
• By pushing the mode button, you switch between gait and training mode.
• When the training mode is selected, it is automatically set to pause. Push the start/stop button, to start the training.
• Use the plus and minus button, to adjust the intensity of the stimulation until the foot is raised. The stimulation should not be painful. If you hold the plus or minus button, the intensity changes in decimal steps.
• To stop the training and reduce the intensity to zero instantly, push the mode button.

Gait mode

Thanks to the gait mode, the innoSTEP-WL is especially easy to use in everyday life: Advanced sensor technology and intelligent algorithms monitor and analyse the gait. The optimal time for triggering the stimulation of the nerve is determined on the basis of measured parameters every three steps. Sit down for starting the gait mode:

• If you use the cuff with integrated electrodes, make sure to moisten them throughoutly beforehand.
• To turn it on, push and hold the on/off button on front of the stimulation unit for a second.
• In order to turn the remote control on, push and hold the on/off button on the side of the remote control for a second. It automatically connects to the innoSTEP-WL.
• The walking figure indicates the gait mode, the sitting figure indicates the training mode.
• By pushing the mode button, you switch between gait and training mode.
• Once you have changed to gait mode, it is automatically on pause. Push the start/stop button, to start the gait mode.
• Use the plus and minus button, to adjust the intensity of the stimulation until the foot is raised. The stimulation should not be painful. If you hold the plus or minus button, the intensity changes in decimal steps.
• Stand up carefully and make the first stip with the unaffected leg.
• Push the mode button to instantly stop the stimulation.

Checking the battery

The foot drop system innoSTEP-WL and the remote control both run from rechargeable batteries and can be recharged using the provided power supply. The charging approximately takes 3 hours. It is very easy to check the battery level:

• Switch on the remote control.
• Push the setting button, recognizable by the gearwheel symbol.
• The display shows "Akku". The upper symbol shows the battery level of the remote control, the one below shows the battery level of the stimulation unit.
• Using the arrow buttons, you can switch between the battery level and the step count.
• To leave the menu, push the setting button once more.

Expanding the cuff

The velcro fastener allows to adjust the width of the cuff. In case the cuff is to tight, it can be extended, using the seperately provided expansion strip.

• Open the velcro fastener and pull the end of the cuff out of the magentic closure. For this, push down the safety tap on the velcro strap.
• Place the two squares of the expansion strap on the velcro strip. You should see a continious velcro surface.
• Thread the magnetic closure on the cuff and make sure that the plain surface shows upwards.
• Attach the velcro strips of the expansion to each other in order to secure it.