A person exercising on a recumbent FES bike while wearing the Talaris belt

University Project · 2024

Tools: Autodesk Solidworks, Keyshot

Talaris

FES therapy device for paraplegic patients

What is Talaris?

Talaris is a tool that will make FES therapy more accessible in private homes, rather than having to rely on hospital equipment, helping the patient to find a new strength both in physical and mental terms.

The kit is composed of the belt, which controls the power output, 4 cables to manage the connections with the electrodes, 20 electrodes that can be placed according to the patient’s needs, and the remote to set up and launch workouts.

The problem

Functional electrical stimulation technology (FES) has been proven helpful in rehabilitating people with paraplegia. However, various structural problems, costs, and availability, deny patients the right amount of care they need for a successful therapy. Talaris tackles these issues by focusing on making this technology easier to produce and distribute for private consumers.

An existing FES exercise bike annotated with its problems: loose cables, uncomfortable attachments and messy controls

How it works

  1. A person on a recumbent FES bike wearing the belt device
    01

    First, wear the belt device

  2. The user connecting a cable to the bottom of the belt device
    02

    Next, connect the cables to the bottom of the device

  3. Cables and electrodes running down the legs, snapped into place
    03

    Apply the electrodes on the specified areas, snapping them to the cable

  4. A hand holding the remote to start a workout
    04

    Lastly, start the workout through the remote interface

The elastic cable

Realized in silicone to ensure elasticity, the copper cables are also printed on a wavy silicone mold to allow them to stretch following the movement of the body.

Render of the elastic silicone cable with its magnetic end connector
Exploded render of an electrode and its snap-on connector

Snap-on electrodes

The electrodes fit on the cable thanks to the snap-on fit, to ensure inclusion for any body size. Production is standardized to fit any commercially available electrode.

Control & feedback

  • Signal LEDs show battery status or connection errors.
  • Emergency stop button is reserved a central spot for easy immediate access.
  • Magnetic connectors help guide the cable in the slot for an easy connection and removal.
Top render of the remote and belt controller: four status LEDs, a central emergency-stop button and magnetic connectors along the base