Integrated Engineering and Rehabilitation Training

描述(由申请人提供)： 这一跨学科培训计划的目标是在辅助技术的基本工程和科学方面以及该技术在康复中的临床应用方面培训博士。工程师需要接受跨学科的培训，才能成功地设计出满足实际临床需求的设备和技术。博士培训将涵盖将技术成功地结合到康复实践中所需的所有领域，包括在i)基础工程和医学、ii)生物医学工程、iii)运动和感觉合成、iv)神经假体的实施以及v)临床康复方面的教学和一对一指导。因此，受训者将学习允许他们将研究能力扩展到专注于论文研究之外的原则。神经假体的开发、测试和临床部署为综合培训提供了一个特别相关的工具，并将作为主要的研究培训模式。我们还包括运动控制的相关生物力学和神经方面的培训。对于神经假体，除了神经组织的实际再生之外，也许没有其他选择可以恢复同等水平的功能。神经系统的电接口可用于从运动神经或感觉神经兴奋、抑制或记录。因此，从概念上讲，通过电刺激对几乎所有依赖神经通讯的结构进行人工控制是可能的。这包括由于脊髓损伤、中风和帕金森氏症等损伤或疾病而导致中枢神经系统瘫痪的大多数关键运动和感觉通路。因此，这项技术可以恢复遭受这种损害的个人的功能，这种类型的植入性系统已被批准用于商业部署。参与的教员是工程和康复领域的专家，包括神经假体的设计和部署以及神经肌肉建模、评估、分析和合成。培训导师在参与机构的设施对学员开放，包括基础科学和工程实验室、神经假体开发实验室和临床门诊实验室。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this interdisciplinary training program is to train PhDs in the basic engineering and science aspects of assistive technology and in the clinical application of this technology in rehabilitation. Interdisciplinary training is required for engineers to successfully design devices and techniques that meet real clinical needs. PhD training will cover the full range of areas that are required to successfully integrate technology into rehabilitation practice, including both didactic and one-on-one mentorship in the areas of i) basic engineering and medical sciences, ii) biomedical engineering, iii) movement and sensory synthesis, iv) implementation of neuroprostheses, and v) clinical rehabilitation. Thus, the trainees will learn principles that will allow them to extend their research capabilities beyond their focused dissertation research. The development, testing and clinical deployment of neural prostheses provides a particularly relevant vehicle for integrated training and will serve as the primary research training model. We also include training in related biomechanical and neural aspects of motor control. For neuroprostheses, perhaps no alternative short of actual regeneration of neural tissue can restore the equivalent level of function. Electrical interfaces to the nervous system may be used to excite, inhibit, or record from either motor or sensory nerves. It is conceptually possible, therefore, to obtain artificial control with electrical stimulation over virtually all structures that rely upon neural communication. This encompasses most of the critical motor and sensory pathways involved in paralysis of the central nervous system as a result of injury or disease such as spinal cord injury, stroke, and Parkinson's disease. This technology can thus restore function to individuals who have sustained such damage, and implantable systems of this type have been approved for commercial deployment. The participating faculty are experts in the fields of engineering and rehabilitation, including the design and deployment of neuroprostheses and neuromuscular modeling, assessment, analysis, and synthesis. The facilities of the training mentors at the participating institutions are accessible to the trainees, and include basic science and engineering laboratories, neuroprosthesis development laboratories, and clinical outpatient laboratories.