Welcome

Established in 1991, the FES Center is a consortium with three institutional partners: Cleveland VA Medical Center (CVMAC), the private educational institution of Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), and the public hospital system of MetroHealth Medical Center (MHMC).

The Center focuses on the application of electrical currents to either generate or suppress activity in the nervous system. This technique is known as functional electrical stimulation (FES). FES can produce and control the movement of otherwise paralyzed limbs for standing and hand grasp, activate visceral bodily functions such as bladder control or respiration, create perceptions such as skin sensibility, arrest undesired activity such as pain or spasm, and facilitate natural recovery and accelerate motor relearning.

The Functional Electrical Stimulation Center was founded to introduce FES into clinical practice. Our challenge is to translate fundamental knowledge of electrical stimulation of paralyzed nerves and muscles into useful systems that enhanced the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities. We advance toward this goal by integrating and facilitating the efforts of scientists, engineers, and clinicians across the institutional partners.

In an exciting environment of leading scientists, engineers, clinicians, students, and fellows working together, we explore new techniques of medical rehabilitation and enable FES knowledge to develop into useful products. We are pleased to provide systems that assist people in improving their lives after the devastating consequences of central nervous system trauma and paralysis.

 
 

In the News

January 31, 2010

Model-based design aids medical device test

Model-based design aids medical device test

Engineers can save themselves a lot of effort by carefully evaluating their designs in software before building hardware. Model-based design can be of significant value in helping isolate domain experts, such as medical-device or aerospace engineers, from the need to understand low-level hardware and software details.

More

January 5, 2010

Research work at Case Western Reserve University could save lives on battlefield

Research work at Case Western Reserve University could save lives on battlefield

A Case Western Reserve University biomedical engineer and her former doctoral student have developed synthetic platelets that may help slow internal bleeding, saving lives after injury on the battlefield or other serious trauma.

More

December 29, 2009

Community hero, 2009: Christopher Wynn, helps others adjust to physical challenges

Community hero, 2009: Christopher Wynn, helps others adjust to physical challenges

Christopher Wynn isn't shy about wheeling up to the bed of a patient with a spinal cord injury.

More