Grants Funded

Abstract
Project Summary: Robotic exoskeletons are often lauded as the next great scientific advancement, having the ability to provide users with super-human strength and endurance. Despite sensationalized headlines, exoskeletons have the potential to restore everyday functionality for those living with motor weakness. Unfortunately, exoskeletons have not been widely adopted, and this is in part due to inaccurate motor detection and classification, as they rely on difficult-to-detect superficial EMG signals to determine motor intention. Over the past decade, our laboratory has developed the regenerative peripheral nerve interface (RPNI) which has the ability to interface with a transected peripheral nerve and amplify inherent microvolt motor signals to control a prosthetic device. To further develop that concept for those with extremity weakness, our laboratory proposed the muscle cuff RPNI (MC-RPNI). The MC-RPNI is a segment of autogenous muscle graft wrapped around an intact peripheral nerve, and preliminary research has indicated that it is able to revascularize and reinnervate, amplifying a target peripheral nerve's motor efferent signals in situ. The objective of this proposal is to further characterize MC-RPNI signaling and utilize the construct to amplify an intact peripheral nerve's motor efferent signals during volitional behavior. This construct was developed under the hypothesis that the MC-RPNI will reinnervate and successfully amplify physiologic peripheral motor nerve signals over time without affecting downstream innervated muscle function. With the support of preliminary trials indicating viability and feasibility of the interface, our hypothesis will be tested by pursuing the following aims: (1) determine the effect of neural innervation of MC-RPNI constructs on the viability and physiologic function of downstream muscle targets; and (2) characterize in vivo electrophysiological signal transduction of MC-RPNI constructs during volitional ambulation over time. These aims will be pursued utilizing rats as an experimental model, and signal transduction capabilities will be determined through the use of electrodes and motion video capture during volitional ambulation. Gait analysis and muscle force testing will be performed to analyze downstream muscle function. Demonstration of these aims would encourage further progress towards the development of the ideal exoskeleton interface, paving the way for those with extremity weakness to recover full motor functionality. Impact Statement: Nearly 7 million people living in the United States have a history of stroke, and of those 7 million, 80% are affected by resultant permanent extremity weakness. Advanced robotic exoskeleton devices have been developed to help those individuals regain full motor functionality, but unfortunately, current methods of human-machine interfacing are unable to provide accurate, intuitive control of these devices. This proposal seeks to enable realization of the ideal exoskeleton through the development of the Muscle Cuff Regenerative Peripheral Nerve Interface (MC-RPNI). The MC-RPNI has the potential to significantly impact those with limb weakness by allowing for full extremity use and return of functional independence through effective control of an exoskeleton device.

Biography
Shelby Svientek, MD joined the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Michigan as an integrated plastic surgery resident in 2016. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering and later earned her medical degree at Loyola University Chicago, graduating magna cum laude with Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Society membership. Dr. Svientek has demonstrated long-standing interest in biomedical research. She initially pursued research into calcium phosphate bone scaffolding for craniofacial defects, earning several awards and scholarships at the undergraduate level. During medical school, with the award of the Student Training in Approaches to Research Grant, she created an in vitro model for urothelium, developing both the culture methodology and scaffold system. While in residency, Dr. Svientek investigates the differences in pain behaviors and signaling between genders in rats as well as works towards developing the ideal neuroma model. In her spare time, Dr. Svientek enjoys cooking, running, gardening, and volunteering, notably founding a community garden in the west side of Chicago during medical school. In the future, Dr. Svientek plans to pursue fellowship training to further her skills in nerve and micro-vascular reconstruction. Her career goal is to run a clinical practice helping patients with debilitating nerve injuries in addition to running a laboratory researching nerve regeneration and interfaces.