5 replies to this topic

[nmehta]

Hi everyone,

I'm a graduate student from the California Institute of Technology, and I'm here to ask for some information and opinions from you all. There is a pretty cool technology being developed at Caltech/UCLA that has some great applications for quadriplegics and paraplegics. I'm here to discuss it with you all and ask your opinions.

Here's the full disclosure: I'm part of a entrepreneurship class at Caltech where the goal is to take a research technology and form a business plan. Part of forming the plan entails characterizing the market for the technology (who would want it, why they would want it, how much would they pay, etc.). So I'm here to do some market research. This technology, although promising, is still in the research stage and may never make it to market. However, at the conclusion of our class we're going to share our results with the Primary Investigators and with Angel investors, so anything is possible.

Ok, with that out of the way... let me explain what it's all about. Researchers at Caltech/UCLA are working on an implantable medical device that will try to restore limited movement capabilities for people with spinal cord injuries. The device will be similar to neurostimulation devices offered by Medtronic. These devices are basically a set of electrodes connected to a control unit which are implanted into your body. They can be powered either by battery or by an external device that sends energy to the control unit via RF. The electrodes are connected to your spine, and the control unit is able to send pulses of current into your spinal cord. Current Medtronic devices do this to alleviate pain for those suffering from chronic pain. The Caltech/UCLA device that is being researched is made out of many more, much smaller electrodes. This means that it can stimulate specific nerves with a much greater accuracy. That way, you can have fine control over what you want that stimulus to do (rather than just blunt pain).

They have performed some pretty cool experiments with mice where a mouse with full spinal cord transection (meaning the spinal cord is actually fully severed, a rare condition for humans) is able to walk. Now, it's not walking under its own volition, but rather it's walking as a reflex action on a moving treadmill. These sorts of movements can be performed without brain signals being sent down the spinal cord- they are locally generated in the lower half of the body. I'll try to post some links to videos of the experiment if there's an interest (and if I have permission). The short term goal will be to restore some limited reflexive movements; the long term goal (which is still far away) will be to decode brain signals to determine movement intent. They are some cool experiments with monkeys where they can accomplish things like this (done at many universities across the country), but getting it work well is tough.

Currently, the research groups are about to start some human trials. One of the very first experiments will try to accomplish something that (to me, as someone without spinal cord injury) seems small, but I am told will have an enormous impact on the quality of life of paraplegics. The experiment will to make the subject stand up. That's it- just stand up out of their wheelchair, be able to balance, and sit back down.

What are you thoughts on this device? Here are the sorts of things I'd like to know:

- Would you be interested in a device like this?
- What is your current standard of care? Are you happy with it?
- What other capabilities would you want this device to have (other simple movements, for example)?
- How much would you pay for it?
- What concerns would you have about this device?
- Are there current devices or solutions that are similar to this that you're already using (in case we haven't done our homework properly)?

If you could answer any of these questions, it would be of great help. Also, if any of you would like to volunteer for a short phone interview, that would be wonderful.

If you have any questions of your own, please ask and I will answer to the best of my ability. I'm not a primary researcher on the project, but I have access to them and may be able to route particular questions to them.

Thanks for your help!

[Tim13]

Hi,

In answer to your questions:

What are you thoughts on this device? Here are the sorts of things I'd like to know:

- Would you be interested in a device like this?
Not if it only allows me to stand.

- What is your current standard of care? Are you happy with it?
Very happy, i do everything myself.

- What other capabilities would you want this device to have (other simple movements, for example)?
Taking maybe four or five steps would be nice.

- How much would you pay for it?
I'd have to see if it actually works properly before deciding.

- What concerns would you have about this device?
Many implanted devices seem to be unreliable and can be prone to causing infections due to imperfect installation.

- Are there current devices or solutions that are similar to this that you're already using (in case we haven't done our homework properly)?
Levo wheelchair stands me up and sits me back down.

[KimAndSophie]

Hi,
This is very interesting.

What are you thoughts on this device? Here are the sorts of things I'd like to know:

- Would you be interested in a device like this?
Yes, but not for the standing reason. I usually pass out long before I get close to standing when I use tilt tables or standers or even when I'm swimming and my legs dangle straight down. My blood pressure drops so fast I'm out cold within seconds.

- What is your current standard of care? Are you happy with it?
I'm totally independent and happy about it.

- What other capabilities would you want this device to have (other simple movements, for example)?
As a quadriplegic who can't move my fingers, I'd love to be able to have some grip back. Even if it's just my thumb and first finger on one hand! It would be way more useful than anything else. In fact if I had a choice between walking or moving those two fingers I'd pick the fingers!

- How much would you pay for it?
I'd have to decide on that when I knew how well it worked.

- What concerns would you have about this device?
Infection, if there were any side effects, how long it would last before it had to be replaced, and if I could still play sports etc without having to worry too much about if I got hit in that area etc.

- Are there current devices or solutions that are similar to this that you're already using (in case we haven't done our homework properly)?
The only ones that come to mind are wheelchairs with a standing function and standers.

[DouBle_V23]

Sounds good sign me up as a research subject.

[Doug]

As a quad any way to regain hand function of 1 or both hands or use my tricepts so I could learn to transfer would open a whole new world for me.


INFECTION is going to be every persons concern

[feather]

Sounds interesting, I have been wondering why there is no such technology out there for us. infection is a concern.

I am not happy with my rehab=none
I had no idea there was this type of item for pain! That would help alot.