For a paraplegic in the workplace, it is an inconvenience to control the functions and movements of a power wheelchair with occupied hands. Our solution is to develop a chair that allows a user to tilt and swivel the wheelchair based on body orientation. Our device allows a user to tilt the chair forwards and backwards by leaning in that direction. A series of pressure sensors integrated in the wheelchair’s backrest are used to monitor leaning motion and control the forward and backward tilt capabilities of the chair. To allow a user to swivel the chair, tilt switches attached to the user’s shirt will monitor if a user is leaning to the right or left. As compared to the current joystick and switch wheelchair control system, our design allows hands-free operation of the wheelchair’s mobility and functionality.

Currently, there is no technology that is able to reverse the optic nerve damage that is caused by glaucoma. The optic nerve damage and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death associated with glaucoma is due to a pressure buildup in the eyes. Studies have shown that RGC death may be prevented in the central nervous system using alternating electric fields to stimulate neural regrowth. Our team has extended this work to evaluate the potential of repairing a damaged optic nerve through alternating electric field stimulation. We have developed an implantable electrode device in which an electrode cuff is wrapped around the optic nerve of the eye. The electrode device is remotely activated by radio frequency (RF) to stimulate the optic nerve with biphasic square waves. Our novel approach has the potential to restore vision to the millions of Americans who suffer from this neurodegenerative disease.

Diverse demographics of hospital patients, such as drug rehabilitation and post-anesthesia patients need constant monitoring of vital signs during recovery. Current detection methods require bulky monitors and wires which need to be disconnected when the patient moves about the hospital. Our innovative solution is to wirelessly monitor patient vital signs with a system integrated into a hospital gown, creating a “smart gown”. The smart gown consists of electronic circuit to filter and wirelessly transmit signals, acquired from the electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes woven into the gown and held to the skin by elastic bands, to a computer at a nurses’ station. In addition, the ECG and respiratory rate analysis software provides audible and visual alarms when a vital sign falls outside of a programmable safe range.

Each year, bone cancer affects approximately 500 children across the world. Limb salvage techniques to maintain equal limb length after tumor and bone removal are vital to the quality of life of these pediatric patients. Current techniques involving expandable implants have limitations, such as high risk of infection, a lengthy rehabilitation period, a limited control of expansion length, a limited frequency of expansion, and a risk of internal component failure. We have created a novel orthopedic implant that expands via a minimally invasive procedure, reducing the risk of infection and rehabilitation time for the patient while improving the previously limited control and frequency of expansion. The novel expandable device has a silicon port for the insertion of insulated needles into an electric circuit that will deliver current to an electric motor. The rotation of this motor drives the linear expansion of the device. Our preliminary results support a strong potential that the design will be an effective minimally invasive technique to expand an orthopedic implant at controlled expansion distances, a vast improvement over current expandable implants.

Difficulties in measuring blood pressure and oxygen saturation in neonates can lead to larger complications such as heart irregularities, blindness from lack of oxygen supply, and death. Invasive vital sign monitoring often utilizes indwelling arterial catheters to obtain blood pressure and oxygen saturation measurements in neonates. However, due to the invasiveness of these methods, it is not preferred for monitoring small infants. Therefore, we have developed a non-invasive device that can monitor both blood pressure and oxygen saturation. Our device optically measures the blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels through the use of light-emitting diodes, which are configured around an inflatable and optically translucent cuff that would be placed on the upper arm of a neonate. The device is able to analyze oxygen saturation and blood pressure values and produce an audible alarm when values fall outside programmed physiological ranges. Our novel monitoring device has the potential of helping to minimize long-term, and even fatal, complications for neonates.

Current solutions to help provide limb function to individuals with upper limb amputations include the basic hook prosthetic and complex reinnervation, in which residual nerves in the forearm are connected to chest muscles of a patient in order to control a prosthetic. Unfortunately, the hook prosthetic has limited real-world functionality, and while complex reinnervation gives the user a prostheses with functionality, in order to use this device the user must undergo significant rehabilitation and a highly invasive surgery. To overcome some of these limitations our team has developed forearm proprioceptive prosthetic device. Proprioception is the ability to control a device by the person’s perception of body position and orientation. Our design is ideal since the musculoskeletal system of the forearm remains largely intact following amputation. This allows for the device to be controlled by the user’s normal physiological rotation of their residual ulna and radius. Our device requires the implantation of a high density, strong field magnet on the radial bone. The implanted magnet interacts with an array of sensors embedded on the inside of a prosthetic socket. When a user rotates his/her forearm, the direction of this magnetic field will change based upon the position of the radial bone. The sensors embedded in the prosthetic are able to determine the angle of change and control a motor in the prosthetic wrist to move at the same rate and degree of twisting inferred from the user.

Approximately 45% of people with a spinal cord injury (SCI) will develop the condition autonomic dysreflexia (AD). AD arises when signals from below the SCI are unable to transmit to the brain and vice versa, creating an increase in nervous system activity. This increased nerve activity causes an increase in peripheral blood pressure that if left untreated can lead to stroke, heart attack, or seizure. Common symptoms of AD include sweating above the SCI, a slow pulse, and cold, clammy skin below the SCI. Current AD monitoring devices are intended for short-term hospital and home use and lack the ability to simultaneously track symptoms. Our solution is a long-term wearable device that measures the galvanic skin response to monitor sweating, a temperature sensor to monitor body temperature, and a pulse oximeter to monitor pulse rate. To encourage usage of the device, the pulse oximeter and temperature device have been embedded into the insole for a shoe, and the galvanic skin response device is embedded into a ring. The development of this device will allow SCI patients to monitor their vital signs in a manner that would not inhibit their lifestyle.