Non-Linear Closed Loop Control and System Identification to Induce Coordinated Finger Movements with Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation (RPMS)

The therapeutic effect of the RPMS can be increased by a closed loop control to induce coordinated movements in the forearm and the (index) finger since these movements elicit a quite physiological proprioceptive inflow to the CNS. To induce coordinated movements the main task is to develop a closed loop control for a single movement. In the view of control technology the control loop is non-linear and time varying and cannot be treated with standard (linear) control methods. Hence the capabilities of system identification are used to take non-linear characteristics into account, while the RPMS is applied. Such…