Active clinical trials for "Spinal Cord Injuries"

Researchers from the University of South Florida's Rehabilitation Engineering program are looking for volunteers to participate in a research study for experimental evaluation of wheelchair-mounted robotic arms (WMRAs). Participants will operate commercially available and developmental WMRAs in a physical test environment. The study will serve to identify desirable design features of WMRAs and input devices so that future production systems may further increase the quality of life of potential users. The study will also promote both the justification of prescribing WMRAs to enhance quality of life through the proposed standard testing method, and awareness for the emerging assistive robotics industry.

The purpose of this study is to obtain markers of airway inflammation from the exhaled breath condensate (the moisture in exhaled air) for comparison to blood based markers. These markers will be compared in tetraplegic, asthmatic and able-bodied control groups. Additionally, lung function testing will be performed, and the associations between breath condensate and blood markers and pulmonary function explored between groups.

The purpose of this research study is to demonstrate that individuals with upper limb paralysis due to spinal cord injury, brachial plexus injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and brain stem stroke can successfully achieve direct brain control of assistive devices using an electrocorticography (ECoG)-based brain computer interface system.

The investigators propose a prospective study, designed to analyze the efficacy of High-Resolution Diffusion Tensor Imaging for accurately sensing white matter tracts in subjects with spinal cord injury. Study subjects will not be randomized, as treatment will follow the doctor's "standard of care." Patients will be selected and offered enrollment based upon the clinical diagnosis of spinal cord injury, either due to degenerative disease or trauma. Enrollment will be based on the chronology of patient presentation.

The purpose of this research is to develop tools enable people who are paralyzed to operate technology and access computers. These tools are called brain computer interfaces (BCIs). BCIs would let a person use brain signals to operate technology.

Periodic screening for colon cancer has become the standard of care in individuals over the age of 50. In this context, it is generally accepted that colonoscopy is the most sensitive modality for the detection of colon cancer and/or pre malignant colon pathology. As currently performed, however, colonoscopy requires that stool be eliminated from the colon before the examination. If stool remains in the colon, visualization of the bowel will be partially or completely impaired and limits the effectiveness of the screening. A number of methods are employed for purging the bowel of waste material but they generally involve either administration of a lavage (like a flush) solution (such as Colyte or Golytely) or of an osmotic laxative (such as sodium phosphate or magnesium citrate). Neither of these approaches is uniformly effective in all individuals and neither is without potential complications, especially on the kidneys. It is the intent of the proposed research to study the relative efficacy and safety of these preparations in both able-bodied individuals as well as people with spinal cord injury. To this end, we will randomize these groups to a lavage solution, a laxative or a combination of the two prior to a routine, clinically indicated colonoscopy. The quality of the preparation will be directly assessed during the colonoscopy and the effect of these preparations on kidney function will be determined. We suspect that when it comes to preparation for colonoscopy, one shoe does not fit all sizes. The proposed research should allow us to determine which form of preparation is least harmful while achieving optimal effectiveness.

Prospective evaluation of the cognitive function of in-house patients suffering from an acute traumatic spinal cord injury before and three months after the initiation of antimuscarinic treatment. The following hypothesis will be tested: Antimuscarinic treatment results in significantly worse cognitive test results three months after traumatic spinal cord injury compared to the pre-treatment results and the results of the control group.

The central objective of this study is to validate new algorithms that coordinate between functional electrical stimulation (FES) and the exoskeleton during sitting-to-standing, walking, and standing-to-sitting movements. The secondary objective is to optimize the algorithms as well as assess their ability to reduce FES-induced muscle fatigue by using ultrasound imaging as a sensing modality. This study will include persons with no disabilities and persons with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). A research set-up comprising of a lower-limb exoskeleton and FES system will be used to achieve sitting-to-standing, walking, and standing-to-sitting movements. Ultrasound Imaging probes may be used to record muscle activity of the stimulated muscles. The signals derived from ultrasound will be used to optimize FES in order to reduce muscle fatigue as well as assess muscle fatigue.

The main objective of this study is to validate the effectivity of a simple home-based training for cycling with functional electrical stimulation (FES). The training is designed to progressively increase strength and endurance of the paralysed muscles of a person with complete spinal cord injury. After a limited period of only several months, performance will be assessed during FES-assisted cycling on a recumbent tricycle over flat ground. The outcomes of this study should provide evidence for the effectivity of FES-cycling as potential rehabilitation method.

Treadmill therapy has the potential to improve the physical fitness and voluntary function of incomplete-lesion spinal cord injured (SCI) patients. However, if it is to be offered as a rehabilitation strategy, evidence must be gathered to support its effectiveness. Present methods used to determine the efficacy of treadmill training do not provide accurate means of monitoring changes in physical fitness during the exercise, or to accurately measure the changes in voluntary muscle function which may occur during a training intervention. We are therefore currently recruiting subjects for a study investigating the feasibility of new methods for monitoring improvements in physical fitness during walking on a treadmill. We also aim to develop methods for monitoring changes in voluntary muscle strength. The bone density of both legs will also be measured to determine if any improvement has occurred following training.