Investing in Innovative Ideas
Over the years, the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center has shown a commitment to innovation in the ever-changing health care landscape. Investing in employees and their innovative ideas for new clinical programs, processes, and devices is critical to improve the care and lives of our Veterans. This year, our medical center is funding seven device oriented projects, five of which include project leaders associated with the APT Center. The funding will provide teams the materials and services needed to develop working prototypes.
Advancement of a Clinical Cycling Program for Veterans with Paralysis
Lead: Kevin Foglyano
We will create an easy to use, clinician-ready interface to extend access of our program to a wider population of Veterans with paralysis. The full system will be deployed to the Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (SCI/D) service at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center to allow Veterans undergoing rehabilitation the chance to ride a bike and train to get valuable exercise and live healthier lives.
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A Non-Hydraulic Self-Leveling Walker for Safe Stair Climbing
Lead: Stephanie Bailey
A next generation Self-Leveling Walker prototype will be developed to improve usability and reliability, as well as make the device less expensive to manufacture and maintain. Improving these critical areas will make the device more attractive for commercialization and wide-spread dissemination to our Veterans.
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Access Autocheck – Point-of-Care Screening of Hemodialysis Vascular Access Risk
Lead: Steve Majerus
Hemodialysis access dysfunction is a major contributor to hospital visits for dialysis patients, and loss of access has major implications on the cost of care and patient mortality. A working prototype will be developed to monitor hemodialysis access function at the point of dialysis care which would allow for early detection and intervention of access dysfunction.
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Smart Artificial Urinary Sphincter (SAUS)
Lead: Steve Majerus
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI), the complaint of involuntary loss of urine during effort or exertion such as coughing or sneezing, is the most common type of urinary incontinence. The SAUS is an implantable system that automatically controls urine flow via pressure gauges for patients suffering from SUI. Funding will go towards further advancement and development of the prototype.
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Hybrid Powered Knee with Electrical Stimulation to Assist Walking After Stroke
Leads: Nathan Makowski/Rudi Kobetic
A working prototype will be developed to aid patients who have suffered stroke by assisting knee and ankle movement during gait. The motorized orthosis will assist knee movement to enhance toe clearance during swing, and knee stability during stance, while electrical stimulation will generate ankle dorsiflexion to bring the foot up for toe clearance.
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