orr@instable.UUCP (Orr Michael ) (11/18/86)
I have heard about research programs to try & make paraplegics
walk again by electrical stimulation of the muscles.
I wolud greatly appreciate any information about such programs:
where, who to contact, status, etc.
Thanks in advance,
Michael Orr.
orr%nsta@nsc.UUCP == ...!hplabs!pyramid!nsc!nsta!orr
--
Michael Orr.
orr%nsta@nsc.UUCP
...!{hplabs}!pyramid!nsc!nsta!orr
Disclaimer: Opinions, come home. All is forgiven. Papa.darragh@calgary.UUCP (John Darragh) (11/22/86)
In article <517@instable.UUCP>, orr@instable.UUCP (Orr Michael ) writes: > > I have heard about research programs to try & make paraplegics > walk again by electrical stimulation of the muscles. > > I wolud greatly appreciate any information about such programs: > where, who to contact, status, etc. > > Thanks in advance, > Michael Orr. First for some background and general information: o I am a volunteer advocate of Spinal Cord Cure research and am an active member of the Spinal Cord Society (SCS). o SCS has been funding ground breaking Spinal Cord Cure research targeted at finding a BIOLOGICAL cure for CHRONIC spinal cord injuries, including leading edge work on Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland VA Medical Center [1]. Completely paralyzed human subjects in clinical trials are now able to walk, climb stairs, and achieve balance via computerized FES. This joint FES program is likely to expand from a current 40 patients [2]. o Researchers at over a dozen centers around the world are actively involved in clinical FES research projects with the ultimate goal of providing increased mobility for paraplegics and hemiplegics and/or hand forearm control for quadra-plegics [3]. This work has been going on for over 20 years. SCS flushed it out of the weeds in 1982. o Clinical research projects using implanted electrode and multichannel stimulators likely to permit stable, selective control of several individual muscles are in only the early stages of development [3]. o Commercially available devices to provide patients with control or mobility of a paralyzed limb are now limited to the correction of foot drop [3]. Within a few years, possibly as little as three, a functional, marketable, prothesis will be widely available [4]. Work toward a commercial FES system using specialized clothing with embedded surface electrodes (nick-named "hot pants") has been going on at Wright State Univ. under Dr. Petrosky, however, rumour has it that he has left there for California. o In lieu of an organic cure this approach can allow (within the near future) limited degrees of walking mobility. It is also good therapy in that it maintains muscle bulk and tone in denervated muscles [2]. The physical and psychological benefits are obvious. o FES systems are not cures, they are experimental neural prothetics. Not all paraplegics are suitable FES candidates. o A good general primer on FES can be found in [5]. A good general overview of the Spinal Cord Society can be found in [6]. Here is a sampling of where FES research is being done [7]: Veterans Administration Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio USA 44106 Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Engineering Center, Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, 7601 East Imperial Highway, Downey, California, USA 90242 Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, Rehabilitation Institute of Ljubljana and Jozef Stefan Institute, Edvard Kardelj University, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia Bioengineering Laboratory, 2nd Surgical Clinic and Institute for Physical Medicine, Vienna University, A 1090 Vienna, Van Swiete-Gasse 1, Austria As for who to contact, there are literally dozens of researchers active in this research area, but I hesitate to broadcast names for two reasons: (1) you should be aware that these people are clinical researchers, not people ready to sell you a FES "cure" for paraplegia, and (2) they are busy doing research and don't have a lot of time to respond personally to inquires. Instead, I suggest that you contact the Spinal Cord Society and join in the quest for a total biological cure. FES is just one component of the SCS Program for Cure. SCS membership is $24 and worth it for the highly informative monthly newsletter which highlights recent cure research progress. Recent research results have been extremely encouraging [8]. The SCS research program is directed by a highly qualified panel of consulting physicians and scientists. At last count, SCS had 16 spinal cord regeneration research projects underway, conducted under contract by top neuroscientists in leading research labs around the world. SCS believes that it has the surest, shortest route to cure for chronic spinal cord injuries. Their Program for Cure is succeeding, and accelerating; more funding support is required. If you plan to contribute to Spinal Cord Cure research, consider the Spinal Cord Society, where 100% of your tax deductible research donation goes directly to highly targeted and competent research. If you are inclined to make a donation, the SCS Canada charity registration number is 0688135-11-20, SCS in the U.S. is a non-profit 501- c-3 organization, IRS #41-1358594. Tax deductible donations can be sent to the address below, or to: SCS Headquarters, 2410 Lakeview Drive Fergus Falls, Minnesota US 56537 For more information on the Spinal Cord Society, contact SCS founder and president Dr. Charlse Carson in Minnesota at (218) 739-5252 or (218) 739- 5261, Ray Wickson in Toronto at (416) 833-0984, or call me in Calgary at (403) 283-4219. Please direct written inquiries to Fergus Falls. If an interest is expressed I will post an article describing the Spinal Cord Society's Program for Cure. References: [1] Interim report to Spinal Cord Society, Computerized Walking Project, Cleveland Veteran's Administration Medical Center, SCS newsletter, pp 12-13, May. 1986. [2] Pros & Cons of Treatments, SCS newsletter, pp 17-20, Oct. 1986. [3] Joint Statement on Functional Neuromuscular Stimulation (FNS), signed by 21 North American FNS researchers, Reprinted in SCS newsletter, pp 8-9, Mar. 1985. [4] 1986 Research, SCS newsletter, pp 6-7, June 1986. [5] Benton, L.A. et.al, Functional Electrical Stimulation: a practical clinical guide, 2nd edition, 1981, Professional Staff Association, Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Engineering Center, California. [6] Carson, C.E., Paralysis and Citizen Advocacy: the Experience of the Spinal Cord Society, SCS, 1985, (25 pages, available from SCS Headquarters in Fergus Falls for $5). [7] Based on addresses in papers in the Neural Prosthetics sessions in Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. on Rehab. Eng., June 17-22, 1984, Ottawa, Canada. [8] Borgens, R.B. et.al, Transected dorsal column axons within the guinea pig spinal cord regenerate in the presence of an applied electrical field, J. Comparative Neurology, #2, Vol. 250, pp 168-180, Aug. 1986, (supported by a grant from SCS). PLEASE REMEMBER THE SPINAL CORD SOCIETY. -- John J. Darragh, Calgary Chapter Head, Spinal Cord Society Canada, 14 Varal Place N.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3A 0A7 (403) 283-4219, ...ihnp4!alberta!calgary!darragh
mberkley@watdcsu.UUCP (11/26/86)
In article <525@vaxb.calgary.UUCP> you write: >o Within a few years, possibly as little as three, a > functional, marketable, prothesis will be widely available [4]. Work > toward a commercial FES system using specialized clothing with embedded > surface electrodes (nick-named "hot pants") has been going on at Wright > State Univ. under Dr. Petrosky. Has anyone considered the problems of no pain feedback? I once read an absolutely fascinating book by Dr. Paul Brand about his work with lepers. He found that because their nerves were damaged they couldn't feel pain, so that they slowly destroyed their tissues through continued abuse. They had to come up with some novel techniques to prevent further damage to their limbs. People using FES systems would have the same problem: they wouldn't feel pain, so that if they were, for example, dragging their feet, they would eventually cause severe damage to their feet, ankles, etc. Mike Berkley, Department of Computing Services, University of Waterloo EAN: mberkley@dcsu.waterloo.cdn UUCP: {allegra,ihnp4,utcsri,utzoo}!watmath!watdcsu!mberkley