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Odstock Medical

History of FES

Home > About > History of FES

400 BC

Torpedo fish, capable of generating substantial electric shocks of 100-150 volts were recommended as therapeutic agents which were applied to the head to relieve headaches and placed under the feet to cure arthritis.

By 1744

Static electricity was being used to treat paralysis

1745

Invention of the Leyden jar – extended the use of electricity by providing the ability to store quantities of charge for later use

1791

First reports of linked muscle contraction to electrical stimulation of the nerve and confirmed in 1799 by Volta

1801

The importance of the rate of increase of stimulating current was observed by Ritter

1830s

Duchenne de Boulogne discovered the “localised electrisation” over specific muscles contributed to Duchenne being labeled as the “father of electrotherapy”

1831

Michael Faraday advanced electrical hardware which led to the many devices used in electrotherapeutics today

1840

The introduction of electricity into muscles was recommended as a diagnostic tool

1909

Madame and Louis Lapicque noted that time and intensity were both important factors for electrotherapy

1916

Adrian mapped the strength/duration curves for health and diseased muscle

1951

Patent applied for first bionic FES system and granted in 1956 – a wearable battery-powered walking activator

1961

Functional Electronic Stimulation was first used was originally referred to as Functional Electrotherapy by W.T. Liberson

1967

The term Functional Electrical Stimulation was introduced by Moe and Post.

1970s

Professors Nightingale and Glanville start FES treatment in Southampton Hospital. OML clinic building is named after Professor Glanville.

1984

FES work started in The Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre, Salisbury District Hospital

1988

Development of first ODFS – Odstock Dropped Foot Stimulator, named after the hospital which was then named Odstock Hospital.

1988- 1992

37 patients seen with a variety of neurological conditions causing a drop foot. This research was funded by the Department of Health

1992

Started looking at the effect of FES on hand function following a stroke

1992

Clinical service started following the article in The Independent

1993-1996

First ever trial of drop foot system

1996

Development and Evaluation Committee (DEC) approval for Odstock drop foot system ODFS.

Late 1990s

started selling FES devices to other treatment centres in the UK

2005

Odstock Medical Limited (OML) was established

2008

Introduction of ODFS (Odstock drop foot system) Pace

2009

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for FES introduced

2012

ODFS Pace XL launched (wireless foot switch option)

2015

OML Leg Cuff (easy application of electrodes)

2021

It is estimated that 20,000 patients have used OML Stimulators

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  • Odstock Medical Ltd.
    The National Clinical FES Centre
    Salisbury District Hospital
    Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8BJ
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