Technology to treat paralysis

Motor paralysis from stroke or spinal cord injury can be severe and long-lasting, despite damage to a relatively small area of the nervous system. Our goal is to develop neuroprosthetic devices capable of bypassing these damaged areas and restoring volitional control of movement to paralyzed limbs.

Our Research Clinical Trials
Now Recruiting!
  • Spinal lesion stained for GFAP (red) and microglia (green)

    Spinal lesion stained for GFAP (red) and microglia (green)

  • Electrode tip imaged with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

    Electrode tip imaged with Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

  • Neurons recorded from the brain and sorted with PCA

    Neurons recorded from the brain and sorted with PCA

Restore

Restore

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation is a non-invasive strategy to modulate spinal circuitry. Utilization of a unique waveform permits high-current electrical stimulation to reach spinal networks without causing discomfort. We are testing the immediate and lasting effects of this potentially break-through treatment for restoring upper extremity function in tetraplegics.
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Rehabilitate

Rehabilitate

We are investigating the optimal method for delivering non-invasive on skin spinal stimulation to improve standing and walking ability in people with spinal cord injury. We are also exploring the combined approach of intensive exercise and robotic technology with the electrical stimulation.
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Reanimate

Reanimate

We have demonstrated that spinal stimulation evoked arm movements after spinal cord injury. We are currently working on brain signal controlled spinal stimulation to reanimate arm movement after cervical spinal cord injury. In collaboration with Josh Smith, we are testing a completely implantable device capable of decoding brain signal and spinal stimulation for arm function.
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Repair

Repair

We are investigating whether intraspinal stimulation is capable of guiding spared pathways to functional targets after spinal cord injury. In collaboration with Phil Horner, we are also exploring the combined approach of stem cell therapies and electrical stimulation.
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