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Quantitative Imaging of Peripheral Nerves
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In 2005-2008 Faisal Beg, Andy Hoffer and Eli Gibson developed a non-invasive, non-traumatic method to visualize and precisely determine the locations and branching patterns of peripheral nerves inside a human limb and to measure the perimeters and cross-sectional areas of nerve branches. As a result of this research, we are able to analyze 3-D images of peripheral nerves in patients scheduled for surgical implantation of neuroprosthetic devices and establish whether surgeons will have sufficient space to attach devices to specific nerves. |
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Transvascular Phrenic Nerve Stimulation for Diaphragm Pacing
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Critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) are frequently kept alive with mechanical ventilation (MV). Unfortunately, MV contributes to respiratory infections, longer hospital stays, poor prognosis for recovery and high cost of care. MV patients have difficulty breathing again, because during mechanical ventilation, the diaphragm muscle undergoes very rapid disuse atrophy. Our aim is to develop a simple, minimally invasive, reversible method for electrical activation of the diaphragm in ICU patients who need mechanical ventilation, so that they may breathe diaphragmatically again. |
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Biomechanical Energy Harvester
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In 2005-2007 Max Donelan and Andy Hoffer received a grant from the NSERC I2I (Idea to Innovation) program to develop a proof-of-concept human power harvesting device that converts movement energy into electrical energy, at little or no additional metabolic cost to the user. In collaboration with Dr. Qingguo Li we successfully designed, constructed and tested a novel harvester prototype mounted on a knee brace that generates about 5 watts of continuous power during level walking. In 2006 we submitted patents and in 2007 a paper to Science (published 8 Feb 2008) and founded a new SFU spin-off company, Bionic Power Inc. to develop commercial harvesters. Anticipated fields of use include portable battery-powered electronic devices and biomedical devices (wearable and implanted). |
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VICTHOM HUMAN BIONICS RECEIVES CE MARK FOR THE NEUROSTEP SYSTEM, THE WORLD’S FIRST FULLY IMPLANTABLE CLOSED-LOOP NEUROMODULATION THERAPY FOR TREATMENT OF FOOT DROP
February 12, 2009
Human trials put movement one step closer for disabled
February 22, 2007
It will be the result of 30 years of
research—human trials this month for the first
fully implanted device that could restore movement for people who
can’t walk or move their limbs due to
neurological impairment.
10th Annual Conference of the International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society
2005
Location: Montreal, Canada
Presenter: Andy Hoffer
Presentation in Special Session 4: Closed-loop FES control, on
"Initial results with fully implanted Neurostep FES system for foot
drop", by Hoffer JA, Baru M, Bedard S, Calderon E, Desmoulin G,
Dhawan P, Jenne G, Kerr J, Whittaker M, Zwimpfer TJ
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