RESTORATION OF FOREARM AND ELBOW FUNCTION BY FNS

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The objective of this work is to investigate methods of maximizing the strength and controllability of stimulated elbow extension for subjects with C5 and C6 spinal cord injuries who have upper extremity neuroprosthesis. We hypothesize that augmenting an established hand grasp neuroprosthesis will give these individuals the ability to grasp and move objects over a greater range of spatial locations and orientations, and improve their ability to perform weight shifts and sliding transfers. The existing hand grasp neuroprosthesis will be augmented by surgical placement of a 16-channel implantable receiver/stimulator (IRS) in the paralyzed triceps in order to restore elbow control in addition to hand grasp/release. Following post-surgical immobilization to allow for adequate healing, subjects will be evaluated for performance of the implanted device, for changes in motor and sensory function, and for functional use of their instrumented hand and arm. The latter will be assessed through use of qualitative and quantitative measures of hand and arm function.