mentastim
Device and therapy explained for professionals.
mentastim Impulse for a new awareness of life
The Therapy
EMG-triggered electrostimulation with Biofeedback
mentastim is designed for treating patients with pareses after damage of the Central Nervous System.
The principle of neuroplasticity
The therapy method takes advantage of the ability of the Central Nervous System to restructure itself in case of a lost capability of motor skills due to damaged nerve tissue. The neuroplasticity of the brain makes it possible to adapt to changed conditions and to relearn the specific control of movements.
EMG-triggered electrostimulation
mentastim uses one EMG-channel for measuring and stimulation according to the principle of EMG- triggered muscle stimulation. Two surface-electrodes are to be patched on the skin above the paralyzed muscle; the third one has to be placed outside the area of the respective muscle.
The three phases of the therapy
- Phase 1 (Rest): The patient relaxes. The muscle potential, also known as the EMG value, will be measured by the electrodes.
- Phase 2 (Imagination): The patient imagines purely mental a specific movement of the muscle group which should be treated. Through the imagination the EMG value of the patient will raise; as soon as it reaches a certain threshold the muscle stimulation will be triggered (phase 3).
- Phase 3 (Stimulation): mentastim will trigger an electrical muscle stimulation with reaching the certain threshold. This represents the positive feedback of the planned movement to the brain which is needed for a successful relearning. This closes the circle.
Indications and therapy objectives
Hier hilft mentastim
Indications
- Diseases or injuries of the Central Nervous System such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor surgery or infantile brain damage
- Spinal cord injury such as an incomplete paraplegia
- Muscle tensions and spasms due to a present
Objectives
- Regulation of the muscle tone and reduction of spasms
- Reduction of ataxia
- Initiation and relearning of movements
- Improvement of fine motor skills
- Prevention of a secondary damage due to improper posture
Neuroplasticity
Using neuroplasticity: The brain can reorganize itself and (re)learn movements
The Central Nervous System has the capability to restructure, if damaged nerve tissue has led to a loss of motor skills. Due to the so called neuroplasticity it is possible to adapt to changed conditions and to relearn specific movements.
Neurons in the healthy parts of the brain are able to adopt tasks of the damaged tissue; to achieve that goal they literally need “Stimulation”.
The Stimulation is triggered from two directions: the patient supports the process cognitively by imagining the movement of the paralyzed limb, and the paralyzed muscle is stimulated electrically by mentastim.
Basic requirements for learning motor skills:
- Motivation
- Frequent repetitions
- Positive feedback
mentastim combines the principle of motor learning with the ability of neuroplasticity.
The imagination of a movement increases the electrical potential of a muscle, which is measured by mentastim as an electromyogram (EMG). Through the electrodes of the device the muscle will be electrically stimulated which gives the positive feedback to the brain of the planned movement.
By the time the brain relearns how to use the muscle through the positive feedback and the frequent repetitions.
The Device
mentastim for a controlled application at home
For the patient
mentastim is very easy to use. The patient can conduct his or her therapy with just a couple of clicks.
This is made possible by:
- Audible and visual therapy control
- Colored and illuminated display
- Automated adjustment of the training goal
For the doctor or the therapist
mentastim has a password restricted part (Expert menu) for the doctor or the therapist.
There you have several additional features:
- Safe and manage patient data
- Adaption of therapy parameters; safe up to four programs: MF, NF, FES in MF and FES in NF
- Read and export therapy protocols
The Therapy concept
mentastim - for rehab in clinics, at the therapist or at home
Increase your therapeutical spectrum and close the gap between the rehabilitation clinic, outpatient therapy and therapy at home.
Help your hemiparesis-patient to support the healing process
mentastim is very well suited for an in- or outpatient rehabilitation, which can also – configured individually by you– be used at home by the patient. Since this device is designed for home therapy it is very easy to use.
Increase your therapeutical spectrum
The EMG- triggered electrostimulation with mentastim will increase your therapeutical spectrum. If you purchase the device for your clinic or your practice, you can use it for several different patients or even lend it to patients.
You can teach the patient how to use the device. The therapy data will be saved automatically. Afterwards you will have the possibility to read the data and (eventually) change parameters.
In this way you can keep the supervision of the patient during his or her home therapy. You are even able to adapt the parameters to the respective results of the therapy.
mentastim is a home therapy system and is accepted for prescription
In case of a medical indication, the costs for the therapy are usually covered by the health insurance on a monthly basis and the mentastim is provided on loan, provided that the therapy is prescribed as a useful therapy supplement.
Individual health service
If the therapy is not covered by the health insurance, the patient can receive the device as an individual health service.
Receive your device through our authorized distributor
As a therapist or medical facility, you can purchase mentastim devices from an authorized medical distributor.
Please contact our distributor for further information.
Also leave your contact information with the dealer, if you would like it to be shared with patients in your area who have been prescribed mentastim.
