Fourteen Years of FES Enabled Ability

Consider for a moment not being able to pick up the TV remote control and tune into the evening news. This is just one of the everyday activities that became a challenge to Chris Wynn after a spinal cord injury 16 years ago.

Two years following his injury, in 1995, Chris received a functional electrical stimulation (FES) hand grasp system that provided hand function enabling him to be more independent, including using the TV remote control.

After fourteen years of everyday use Chris considers his FES grasp a natural movement. Whether he wants to toss the ball with his son, play tug of war with his dog or, or work out with his exercise equipment, Chris is independent and no longer relies on adaptive equipment or assistance.

"Life is not over after a spinal cord injury", that is what Cleveland FES Center research volunteer Chris Wynn wants others to know.

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Name the Newsletter Contest

It was a difficult decision, with many similar entries and all creative, the final newsletter name selection "STIMULUS" was made by an independent advertising agency. Congratulations to Michael Keith, MD and Dustin Tyler, PhD, both submitting the same winning title.

Accomplishments & Awards

Jay Alberts, PhD, received a two-year grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The grant entitled, "Online Motor and Cognitive Analysis System" will extend the current movement analysis technology to an online application and conduct a preliminary validation trial.

Jay Alberts, PhD, received a four-year grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs, ORD, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, for "Therapeutic effects of exercise on Parkinson's disease". The aim of this project is to determine and compare the effects of two modes of exercise, assisted and voluntary, on the motor function of Parkinson's disease patients.

Svetlana Pundik, received a five-year, VA Career Development Award for " Structural and functional brain changes in response to post-stroke rehabilitation". The research objective is to develop noninvasive methods, using MRI and EEG, to study brain plasticity in stroke victims during intensive motor therapy.

"Best Docs in Cleveland"
Congratulations is extended to physician colleagues recognized in "Cleveland Magazine", March 2009, Best Docs in Cleveland issue.

• Hand Surgery: Mike Keith, MD
• Neurology: Joe Hanna, MD, Bob Ruff, MD, PhD
• Orthopaedics: Brendan Patterson, MD
• Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation: John Chae, MD, Gary Clark, MD, Clay Kelly, MD, Greg Nemunaitis, MD

The Cleveland FES Center is honored by their contributions of direct involvement or supportive participation of FES research. The FES Center has always recognized these individuals as "Best" in their respective field.

FES Center New Laboratories and Offices at Louis Stokes Cleveland DVA Medical Center

Consolidating the FES Center into one new area at the Louis Stokes Cleveland DVA Medical Center offers increased research collaboration among the investigators and staff. Also, it allows for expanded efforts to serve the veteran and civilian population through clinical research programs.

The new 7,000 square-foot area has modern clinical therapy laboratories, computer laboratories, machine shop, and office space to accommodate approximately 70 FES Center investigators and staff. The new FES Center also has a friendly receptionist greeting research subjects and visitors in order to provide assistance in their programs.

Uniting the many FES Center labs to one central location allows for a greater collaboration within the core group of surgeons, physicians, researchers, engineers, clinical therapists, and students working together with research volunteers to enhance the independence and quality of life for veterans and civilians.

The individual labs are listed below:

• Advanced Prosthetics Laboratory
• Brain Interfacing Laboratory
• Head & Neck Interfacing Laboratory
• High Performance Computing & Neuro-musculoskeletal Modeling Laboratory
• Motion Study Laboratory (MSL)
• Neural Control Laboratory
• Stroke Motor Control & Motor Learning Laboratory
• Tissue Integrity Laboratory
• Upper Extremity Laboratory

FES Publications

"The first step to computer augmentation and neuroprosthetics lies in the connection between nerve cell and metal. How are the scientists bridging the gap?" The Scientist, Volume 23, Issue 1.

"Using Functional Electrical Stimulation to Restore Movement to Individuals with Neuromuscular Disabilities." Elektronik Praxis, January 27, 2009.

"Functional Electrical Stimulation: The Future of Rehabilitation?" Action Online, Magazine of the United Spinal Association, November 17, 2008.

FESC in the Community

Moving a muscle and using the electrical signal recording to operate a remote control car is how Katie Polasek, PhD, Cleveland FES Center, captured the attention of the visitors at the Great Lakes Science Center's (GLSC) Cleveland Biomedical Technology Careers Program. It was this interaction that prompted the GLSC to ask Katie to design an "FES Exploration Cart".

The portable cart activity will incorporate the same idea of using the electrical signal generated by a voluntary muscle movement to control a device. With the assistance of the GLSC staff, a visitor will place recording electrodes on their forearm and attempt to control a prosthetic hand to perform a functional activity (i.e., pick up a cup) by moving their wrist. Assuming the role of the engineer, the visitor controls the method the signal has processed, allowing them to decide which method performs the best.

This concept of how to provide control to a paralyzed or prosthetic limb is fundamental to FES and will engage the visitor while enriching their understanding of the advances and challenges of the technology.

The Center for Community Partnerships choose RePlay for Kids as one of the recipients for its new Community Outreach Program grants. The grants were offered for the 2008-2009 academic year to continue outreach work in the areas of Pre K-12, senior citizens, health, social service, community and economic development, and lifelong learning.

Bill Memberg, Director, RePlay for Kids and Biomedical Engineer, Cleveland FES Center applied for the grant to allow the organization to purchase additional toolkits, increase the number of workshops it offers and bring in additional partner agencies.

RePlay for Kids is a non-profit organization of volunteers who repair existing toys/devices, adapt mainstream toys, and design new devices for children with disabilities. RePlay provides these services at no cost for non-profit organizations that provide medical, educational, or recreational resources for children with disabilities in the Northeast Ohio area.

Again this year the Cleveland FES Center will sponsor a team for Relay for Life, April 17, 2009 at Case Western Reserve University. The Relay for Life 18-hour tag team walk-a-thon is the signature fund raising event for the American Cancer Society. Please join us at the event for a few trips around the track, registration is at http://www.relayforlife.org/cwru. Be sure to search for the "Cleveland FES Center" team to sign up or make a donation.

Events

Neural Prosthesis Seminar Series

• March 13, 2009 - Laura Boyd, PhD
• April 17, 2009 - Pedram Mohseni, PhD
• May 8, 2009 - Jerry Vitek, MD, PhD

April 16, 2009 - Research ShowCASE

May 4-8, 2009 - VA Research Week