Spinal Cord Injury

UT Dallas > Texas Biomedical Device Center > Research > Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when there is damage to the spinal cord that blocks communication between the brain and the body. Researchers in the Texas Biomedical Device Center (TxBDC) are developing Targeted Plasticity Therapy (TPT) to reorganize the nervous system to treat spinal cord injury with the goal of dramatically reducing the cost of delivery of this therapy to patients. TxBDC’s recent clinical research has demonstrated the potential to treat tinnitus and improve motor function in stroke patients. We fully expect to extend this success to patients with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy in the near future.

Dr. Kilgard working with a patient

Technology To ReWire the Nervous System

TxBDC has developed technology to guide the recovery of arm and leg movements after a brain injury or disease. The technology uses sensors to monitor movements and trigger the ReStore vagus nerve stimulator, strengthening specific neural connections. The RePlay System monitors hand movements as patients play games, triggering stimulation of the vagus nerve, allowing patients to improve arm movements using an app on their smartphone and at home.

Technology for Upper Limb Rehabilitation

Sensor, which is worn on the arm, monitors movement.
The sensor sends information to the smartphone app.
The PCM (Power and Communication Module) is triggered by the app.
Then the PCM activates the IPG (Implanted Pulse Generator). Driving plasticity to the brain.

Technology for Lower Limb Rehabilitation

Sensor, which is worn on the leg, monitors movement.
The sensor sends information to the smartphone app.
The PCM (Power and Communication Module) is triggered by the app.
Then the PCM activates the IPG (Implanted Pulse Generator). Driving plasticity to the brain.

Videos

Related Publications

eLife: Closed-Loop Neuromodulation Restores Network Connectivity and Motor Control after Spinal Cord Injury

Behavioural Brain Research: Awake Behaving Electrophysiological Correlates of Forelimb Hyperreflexia, Weakness and Disrupted Muscular Synchronization Following Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in the Rat

In the News

eLife: Spinal Cord Injury: Is the Vagus Nerve Our Neural Connectome?

D Magazine: This UTD Engineer Is Saving People from Endless Misery

Wings for Life: Promoting Recovery from Cervical SCI by Pairing Rehabilitation with Vagus Nerve Stimulation

The Next Step

Our goal is to fund the next phase of Targeted Plasticity Therapy to treat spinal cord injury and to dramatically reduce the cost to deliver this therapy to patients.

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