Restoring Function through Electrical Stimulation

The major focus of the Cleveland FES Center is the application of electrical currents to either generate or suppress activity in the nervous system. This technique is known as functional electrical stimulation (FES). FES can produce and control the movement of otherwise paralyzed limbs, for standing and hand grasp; activate visceral bodily functions, such as micturition; create perceptions such as skin sensibility; arrest undesired activity, such as pain or spasm; and facilitate natural recovery and accelerate motor relearning. FES is particularly powerful and clinically relevant, since many people with neurological disabilities retain the capacity for neural conduction, and are thus amenable to this intervention.

The FES Center was established as a VA RR&D Center of Excellence in 1991 and is based at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC (CVAMC). The Center is a consortium with three institutional partners: CVAMC, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), and the MetroHealth Medical Center (MHMC). The Center accomplishes its mission by integrating and facilitating the efforts of scientists, engineers, and clinicians through common goals and directions in the major clinical areas, and by providing mechanisms to accomplish these goals across the institutional partners.

The Cleveland FES Center (FESC) is a research consortium in Functional Electrical Stimulation including: Cleveland VA Medical Center, MetroHealth Medical Center, and Case Western Reserve University.

They are a leader in developing advanced techniques to restore function for persons with paralysis. Their focus is on functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems that improve health, productivity and quality of life. They engage in a full range of research and development activities, including conceptual design, prototype development, "in vivo" testing, clinical evaluation and technology transfer to industry.

Advanced Technology

They maintain state of the art software and hardware design facilities for prototype development. Theirr Class 1000 cleanroom is used to fabricate implantable medical devices such as electrical stimulators, electrodes and sensors. Their technical staff is world-renowned in the areas of neurophysiological systems modeling, advanced control methods, sensor development, stimulator and electrode design, implantable device packaging and radio-frequency communication.

Clinical Research

Their multidisciplinary rehabilitation team is developing innovative solutions to problems that face persons with spinal cord injury, stroke, head injury and other central nervous system disorders. They are evaluating FES systems to improve hand function, gait, standing, transfers, and bladder, bowel and respiratory function. Their expert team has pioneered the use of FES in combination with restorative surgical procedures such as tendon transfers.

Education and Training

Through our affiliation with the Case Western Reserve University Schools of Medicine and Engineering, they offer research fellowships and graduate degrees in biomedical engineering. Their center sponsors a monthly seminar series on neural prostheses and organizes educational programs on FES topics. Their FES Information Center serves both the technical and general public as an international clearinghouse for developments in FES, providing a newsletter, resource library and other services.

Technology Transfer

A major goal of our center is to support the transfer of implantable FES systems into the health care marketplace. They have a proven track record in this area with expertise in regulatory issues, feasibility studies, multi-center clinical trials, technology licensing, and training workshops. Their Hand Grasp Neuroprosthesis is one example of their ability to design, develop, multi-center test and transfer to industry a complete FES system.

Click onto below links to learn about Cleveland FES Center's Projects