FEScenter.org Update

TO BE RELEASED, July 19, 2010...Follow the journey of Jen French, research participant, in her "Stand by Me" journal at www.FEScenter.org.

Jen's journey begins...

Twelve years ago I sustained a spinal cord injury from a snowboarding accident. This accident left me a quadriplegic. To say the least, it was life changing.

Eleven of those years post-injury, I have been using a stand and transfer neural prosthesis. This is an experimental device and I am the first woman to receive such a system. It consists of implanted electrodes to my paralyzed muscles and an external control device. Using this device on a daily basis has afforded me the ability to keep the paralyzed muscles healthy while combating medical complications common among people living with spinal cord injury such as pressure sores, spasticity and muscle atrophy. The FES system has given me alternatives to my wheelchair by enabling me to move around short distances with a walker. I have had unique experiences with the system which would be considered 'impossible' upon my initial diagnosis: the ability to stand at the seventh inning stretch, standing to hug a loved one and walking down the aisle at our wedding. I have integrated this technology into my daily life and have become accustom to its benefits.

It is now time for an upgrade. This is not as simple as upgrading your cell phone or computer. This is upgrading an implanted device. It will require hours of exercise, therapy and a lengthy surgical procedure. On August 30, 2010, a talented team at the Cleveland FES Center will implant the upgraded system. The surgery is expected to take seven hours with six weeks of recovery followed by rehabilitation and testing. The process should take about one year and this journal will chronicle the experience. In preparation for the surgery, in July I will begin a four hour daily exercise protocol. This again will be an experimental procedure in which several researchers will monitor my progress.

This will be an exciting advancement in medical research for people living with spinal cord injury. Join me on this journey.

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Outreach Activities

5th Annual Capitol Hill Modeling & Simulation Exhibition, Washington DC, June 2010

Robert Kirsch, PhD, Associate Director of Technology, Cleveland FES Center was invited to participate in the Capitol Hill Expo featuring top notch Modeling & Simulation demonstrations from around the country.

"Our research is at the intersection of science, medicine, and technology, and requires a fundamental understanding, through modeling and simulation, of the underlying mechanisms of the human motor system", says Dr. Kirsch. The demonstration focused on FES and associated technologies as it relates to restoration of upper extremity movement in individuals with high level paralysis or amputation.

Neural Interfaces Conference NIC,
Long Beach, CA, June 2010

The Cleveland FES Center was a sponsor and exhibitor at the leading conference of the research community including scientists, engineers, and clinicians, representing the basic and applied science aspects of neural interfaces.

More than 15 FES Center members attended the NIC; participating in poster presentations and research presentations by Drs. Peckham, Kilgore, Tyler and McIntyre.

The NIC Conference promotes dialogue between the attending research community and offers an environment for the presentation of cutting-edge research.

Contemporary Forums, Spinal Cord Injury,
Boston, MA, May, 2010

At this clinician focused meeting, Hunter Peckham, PhD, Director, Cleveland FES Center in conjunction with Jen French, Neurotech Network, discussed current FES applications for individuals with Spinal Cord Injury.

Contemporary Forums offers a multi-disciplinary clinical perspective for the rehabilitation of persons with Spinal Cord Injury. Emphasis is on maximizing function while minimizing the long term effects of this life-altering condition.

National VA SCI Primary Care Team Training,
Cleveland, OH, April, 2010

National training for the VA SCI Primary Care Team was conducted in Cleveland highlighting the Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC SCI Center Model.

The training reviewed concepts, guidelines and best practices in spinal cord injury (SCI) care, and increased knowledge and skills of primary caregivers who serve veterans with a spinal cord injury or disorder. Kevin Kilgore, PhD, Associate Director, Cleveland FES Center, presented FES research for spinal cord injury to restore arm/hand function.

American Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, April 2010

Participation in the session "Using Technology to Advance Outcomes for the Neuromuscular Patient Population", Anne Bryden, OTRL, Cleveland FES Center, discusses methods to measure effects of SCI individuals using FES therapies.

Occupational therapists, part of the FES Center clinical team, assist individuals to regain, develop, and build skills that are essential for independent functioning, health, and well-being.

Media

Building Function, Building Hope: Orthotic Management of Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury

Life, as they say, can turn on a dime. One of the everyday pleasures in a child's life - a car trip, school football game, or bounce on a trampoline - can end with a disastrous snap. Partial or complete spinal cord injury (SCI) currently affects as many as 63,000 American children, according to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, with consequences that can begin with neural deficit or paralysis and extend to a lifetime of secondary medical problems.

Read more: Building Function, Building Hope: Orthotic Management of Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury

Case Western Reserve Researchers Show Off Medical Possibilities

It was a morning of possibilities. At Case Western Reserve University's Research Showcase Thursday, a biomedical engineer talked with a health care technologist, an electrical and computer engineer, a research dean and a venture capitalist about how interdisciplinary and translational research can create jobs and develop the economy.

Read more: Building Function, Building Hope: Orthotic Management of Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury

Crain's Health Care Heroes Finalist: Chester Ho, MD

An independent panel of judges reviewed more than 100 nominations this year as part of the selection process for the 2010 Health Care Heroes awards. The judges took into account nominees' leadership, approach to health care and philanthropy/community service in selecting this year's 27 finalists. And while the region as a whole is known for its strength in the health care field, individuals and organizations like those selected by the judges are the ones working and advancing the sector.

Read more: Crain's Health Care Heroes Finalist: Chester Ho, MD

Awards

The Apple Award

The 2010 recipient of The Apple Award is Anthony F. DiMarco, M.D., Investigator, Cleveland FES Center.

The Apple Award of excellence for publishing in the spinal cord injury rehabilitation literature is named in honor of David F. Apple, Jr., M.D., founding member and past-president (1983-1985) of ASIA, American Spinal Cord Injury Association. The award winning article appeared in the journal "Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation", volume 90, number 3, May 2009.

New Project Funding

"Multi-functional Neuroprosthetic System for Restoration of Motor Function" Funding: NIH-NINDS, U01 award mechanism. Principal Investigator: P. Hunter Peckham, PhD. Funding period is June 2010 - May 2015.

The purpose of this project is to implement a few spinal cord injured subjects with a multi-function neuroprosthesis using the networked neuroprosthesis system. The functions to be provided are: hand grasp and reach, trunk stability, cough ability, and bladder function.

"Restoration of Upper Extremity Function" Funding: Neilsen Foundation. Principal Investigator: P. Hunter Peckham, PhD. Funding period is July 2010 - June 2012.

The purpose of this project is to support the implementation of additional upper extremity subjects with IST-12 systems. These subjects would be the first implemented as part of the newly formed Institute for Functional Restoration.

"Control of Seated Balance with Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation" Funding: Department of Defense, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command. Investigator: Musa Audu, PhD. This is a congressionally directed medical research program.

The purposes of the project is to design a new assistive device that varies the strength of the stimulated muscles of individuals with spinal cord injury to allow them to adjust their sitting posture and to automatically make corrections to maintain a seated balance.

"Clinically Applied Rehabilitation Engineering (CARE)" Funding: Ohio Third Frontier. Participating Investigator: Jay Alberts, PhD.

This funding initiative is designed to develop Ohio as a technological hub by supporting a consortium focused on improving rehabilitation devices.

"Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Recovery of Coordinated Movement in Stroke" Funding: Department of Veterans Affairs. Investigator: Janice L. Zimbelman, PhD, MS, PT. Funding period: June 2010-May 2015.

The overall goal is to identify the brain changes required to produce recovery of lower limb coordinated movement in stroke survivors.