Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Enrolls First Patient in a Clinical Study of New Neurotechnology For Stroke Rehabilitation
Posted on: Monday, 27 August 2007, 09:13 CDT
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital announced today that it has initiated a clinical study to explore the use of a new neurostimulation technology to improve outcomes of post-stroke rehabilitation. The study will test the ability of an innovative noninvasive device to accelerate the process of regaining arm function in individuals who have had suffered a stroke.
"We are excited to be conducting a trial of this important new technology. Many patients who have suffered a stroke have a persistent loss of upper extremity function. Devices that could improve clinicians' ability to bring patients back toward normal capability are of tremendous interest," said Dr. Joel Stein, Chief Medical Officer at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
Neuroscientists and clinicians now recognize that the brain can recover, or remap, functions that were lost due to a stroke. The technology being tested in this study is being developed by Afferent Corporation, a Providence, RI-based medical device company. Previous tests of the Company's devices in humans have demonstrated that they boost sensory feedback from the extremities. Sensory information that is integrated and synchronized with movement and muscle contraction is one of the key drivers of brain remapping following stroke.
This new study uses skin-surface devices that provide low level, non-painful electrical and mechanical stimulation to the affected arm during rehabilitation sessions. By comparing arm function scores before and after a 4-week rehabilitation regimen, it will be possible to determine how effective the stimulation is in improving outcomes.
Individuals who are interested in participating in the study should contact the hospital at 617.573.2087.
About the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network
The Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network, home to Harvard Medical School's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, has built a national reputation for excellent clinical care, advanced research, and innovative programs in rehabilitation. A member of Partners HealthCare, the Spaulding Network includes its main campus, a 196-bed facility, located in Boston, MA, and eight outpatient sites throughout the Greater Boston area. Spaulding is the only rehabilitation hospital in New England ranked since 1995 by U.S. News and World Report in its America's Best Hospitals survey and is the top-rated rehabilitation hospital in New England. For more information, please visit www.spauldingrehab.org.
Source: Business Wire
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