Closed-loop Spinal Stimulation for Restoration of Upper Extremity Function After Spinal Cord Injury

Eligibility Criteria

• 1. has cervical (C8 or higher), incomplete (American Spinal Cord Injury Impairment Scale - C or D) traumatic spinal cord injury, minimum 1-year post-injury
• 2. has difficulty with hand functions in activities of daily living (e.g., dressing, grooming, feeding)
• 3. stable medical condition without cardiopulmonary disease or autonomic dysreflexia that would contraindicate participation in upper extremity rehabilitation or testing activities
• 4. capable of performing simple cued motor tasks
• 5. has ability to attend intervention/functional task training and assessment sessions 3 times/week
• 6. has adequate social support to participate in all intervention and baseline/follow-up assessment sessions throughout 40 weeks.
• 7. has ability to read and speak English
• 1. dependent on ventilation support
• 2. has implanted stimulator (e.g., pacemaker, vagus nerve stimulator, cochlear implant, etc.) or baclofen pump
• 3. has metallic devices and implants in the head (e.g., deep brain stimulators, aneurysm clips/coils, and stents, vagus nerve stimulators)
• 4. has a history or current signs/symptoms of syringomyelia (progressive pain, muscle weakness, and/or sensory loss; deterioration of bowel/bladder function)
• 5. has autoimmune etiology of spinal cord dysfunction/injury
• 6. has received botulinum toxin injections in upper extremity muscles in the prior 6 months
• 7. has tendon transfer or nerve transfer surgery in the upper extremity,
• 8. taking tizanidine, dantrolene or diazepam
• 9. has history of seizures or increased risk for seizures
• 10. has history of chronic headaches or migraines
• 11. has history of neurologic diseases, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, etc.
• 12. has peripheral neuropathy (diabetic polyneuropathy, entrapment neuropathy, etc.)
• 13. has rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.)
• 14. has significant medical disease; including uncontrolled systemic hypertension with values above 170/100 mmHg; cardiac or pulmonary disease; uncorrected coagulation abnormalities or need for therapeutic anticoagulation
• 15. has cardiovascular or musculoskeletal disease or injury that would prevent full participation in physical therapy intervention
• 16. unhealed fracture, contracture, pressure sore, or frequent urinary tract infections or other illnesses that might interfere with upper extremity rehabilitation or testing activities
• 17. has a history of severe allergy (i.e., allergic reaction that could not be treated with antihistaminic medication
• 18. has alcohol and/or drug abuse (subject's verbal statement)
• 19. has cancer
• 20. pregnant (Childbearing potential will be asked at screening, baseline, and every subsequent visit in which the subject would receive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation and/or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation whether the participant could be pregnant. Pregnancy will be ruled out by an over-the-counter urine pregnancy test for all females of childbearing potential (1) at the time of enrollment, (2) prior to all sessions that include Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, and also prior to the intervention phases of (3) closed-loop or (4) open-loop stimulation. Additional pregnancy tests may be performed if there is a concern of pregnancy.)
• 21. lack of ability to fully comprehend, cooperate and/or safely perform study procedures in the investigator's opinion/judgment
• 22. unable to read and/or comprehend the consent form