14 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
The objective of the device feasibility study will be to validate the user needs of the Point Mini system. This study will be a single group intervention model where one group of 5 children with partial-hand upper limb loss will be asked to perform several tasks. Successful completion of a task results in a fulfilled user need. Failure to complete a task results in an unfulfilled user need.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the Point Mini system as compared to the subject's existing prosthetic treatment, which may include a prosthesis, other assistive device, or no device. This study will be a single subject crossover design where one group of 14 children with partial hand deficiencies will be evaluated on several metrics using their existing prosthetic treatment for one month and the Point Mini system for two months. Metrics include: in-clinic functional measures, subjective assessments, bilateral hand use, and prosthesis wear time.
A trial to compare the performance of the SoftHand Pro (SHP) and Ossur i-Limb in people with transradial limb loss over an 8-week period.
Study assessing four-channel prosthesis controller, that compares contralateral (mirrored) EMG-force training to ipsilateral EMG-target training with both limb-absent and able-bodied subjects
Two-phased randomized controlled trial comparing the impact of microprocessor controlled knee prostheses (MPK) with the impact of non-microprocessor controlled knee prostheses (NPMK) in patients with a transfemoral/knee disarticulation level amputation categorized as K2 ambulators.
This study investigates whether simultaneous electromyographic (EMG)-based pattern recognition control of an upper limb prostheses increases wear time among users. In contrast to conventional, seamless sequential pattern recognition style of control which only allows a single prosthetic hand or arm function at a time, simultaneous control allows for more than one at the same time. Participants will wear their prosthesis as they would normally at home using each control style for an 8-week period with an intermittent 1-week washout period (17 weeks total). Prosthetic usage will be monitored; including, how often participants wear their device and how many times they move each degree of freedom independently or simultaneously. The primary hypothesis is that prosthetic users will prefer simultaneous control over conventional control which will result in wearing their device more often. The secondary hypothesis is that simultaneous control will result in more efficient prosthesis control which will make it easier for participants to perform activities of daily living. The results of this study will help identify important factors related to prosthetic users' preferences while freely wearing their device within their own daily-life environment.
Many different factors can degrade the performance of an upper limb prosthesis users control with electromyographic (EMG)-based pattern recognition control. Conventional control systems require frequent recalibration in order to achieve consistent performance which can lead to prosthetic users choosing to wear their device less. This study investigates a new adaptive pattern recognition control algorithm that retrains, rather than overwrite, the existing control system each instance users recalibrate. The study hypothesis is that such adaptive control system will lead to more satisfactory prosthesis control thus reducing the need for recalibration and increasing how often users wear their device. Participants will wear their prosthesis as they would normally at-home using each control system (adaptive and non-adaptive) for an 8-week period with an intermittent 1-week washout period (17 weeks total). Prosthetic usage will be monitored during each period in order to compare user wear time and recalibration frequency when using adaptive or non-adaptive control. Participants will also play a set of virtual games on a computer at the start (0-months), mid-point (1-months) and end (2-months) of each period that will test their ability to control prosthesis movement using each control system. Changes in user performance will be evaluated during each period and compared between the two control systems. This study will not only evaluate the effectiveness of adaptive pattern recognition control, but it will be done at-home under typical and realistic prosthetic use conditions.
The goal of this study is to find out if using microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees (MPKs), prosthetic knees with a built-in computer, improves health outcomes related to falls in adults who use above-knee prostheses. The main questions are: * Do individuals with MPKs have fewer fall-related health issues compared to those with non-microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees (nMPKs)? * Do individuals with MPKs have increased mobility, faster walking speed, and improved quality of life compared to those with nMPKs? Participants who have recently received an nMPK as part of their regular care can join the study. Those randomized to the control group will keep using their nMPK, while those randomized to the intervention group will receive a stance-and-swing MPK or a stance-only MPK.
The goal of this proposed project is to gather community-based data from the K2-level Transfemoral Amputee (TFA) population to aid in evidence-based prescription of powered prosthetic knees (i.e., choosing the right device to maximize the benefit for each patient). The investigators intend to use this trial data along with a concurrent study being conducted within the K3-K4 level population to guide the implementation of effective prescriptions towards those that can benefit most from a given device and limit prescription to those who would not see benefit in order to ensure the most judicious use of Department of Defense (DoD) and Veteran's Affairs healthcare dollars. The findings will also be shared with the research community to help drive the design of future devices by identifying what features and functions are most beneficial to which patient populations when the devices are used outside of the laboratory. In summary, more community-based data on how powered prosthetic knees compare with the current standard in TFA populations is needed to allow for improved clinical decision making and clinical outcomes.
The goal of this proposed project is to gather community-based data from the K4-level Transfemoral Amputee (TFA) population to aid in evidence-based prescription of powered prosthetic knees (i.e., choosing the right device to maximize the benefit for each patient). The investigators envision that this Level 1 submission will transition into a larger follow-on Level 2 trial that will explore a larger spectrum of patient populations (K2-K4), as well as testing additional Power Knees currently in development that are expected to become commercialized in the near future. The investigators intend to use this Level 2 trial data to guide the implementation of effective prescriptions towards those that can benefit most from a given device and limit prescription to those who would not see benefit in order to ensure the most judicious use of Department of Defense (DoD) and Veteran's Affairs healthcare dollars. The findings will also be shared with the research community to help drive the design of future devices by identifying what features and functions are most beneficial to which patient populations when the devices are used outside of the laboratory. In summary, more community-based data on how powered prosthetic knees compare with MPKs is needed to allow for improved clinical decision making and clinical outcomes.
Liberating Technologies, Inc. (LTI) has developed a dexterous prosthetic fingertip that will be fit onto an i-Digits™ partial hand prosthesis and allow for an additional fine grasp. The device will interface with research participants' existing prostheses and use the same control strategy that is used for their everyday use. Each participant's prosthesis will be restored to their original configuration by the end of their testing period.
The comfort and fit of the residual limb within a prosthetic socket are of primary concern for many amputees. The residual limb is typically covered by non-breathable and non- thermally conductive materials that can create a warm and ultimately moist environment. To address this, Liberating Technologies, Inc. (LTI) and Vivonics, Inc. have developed a thermo-electric cooling (TEC)-based module called the Intrasocket Cooling Element (ICE), that can be embedded into the prosthesis in order to cool the residual limb. A technology that can provide thermal control while retaining adequate suspension, weight and other prosthetic characteristics would benefit many prosthesis wearers.
The comfort and fit of the residual limb within a prosthetic socket are of primary concern for many amputees. The residual limb is typically covered by non-breathable and non- thermally conductive materials that can create a warm and ultimately moist environment. The investigators have developed a silicone liner approach to remove sweat from the skin and out of the socket and to passively conduct heat from the skin using thermally conductive elastomers. This liner has been developed to work alongside a thermo-electric cooling (TEC)-based module called the Intrasocket Cooling Element (ICE) developed in a parallel project by Vivonics, Inc. and Liberating Technologies, Inc. The ICE device can be embedded into the prosthesis in order to cool the residual limb. A technology that can provide thermal control while retaining adequate suspension, weight, and other prosthetic characteristics would benefit many prosthesis wearers.
Injuries to the genitalia are of concern to the military with emphasis placed on the surgical reconstruction and psychological health of these Wounded Warriors. However, despite significant surgical advances in microvascular surgery and autologous free tissue transfer, conventional reconstructions cannot truly replace the complicated structures and functions of the penis including the urethra, erogenous sensation, and erectile corporal bodies. Conventional reconstruction poses several challenges: patients may not have sufficient donor tissue due to other injuries or previous surgery; multiple operations are often needed to restore the neophallus; the final reconstruction only approximates the penis' native form; recreating the urethra is challenging and the new urethra is prone to stricture and fistula formation; the erectile function necessary for sexual intercourse is often lacking; and insufficient protective sensation can lead to penile implant extrusion, infection, subsequent explantation or loss of the reconstruction. The investigators propose this clinical trial to determine functional outcomes and quality of life for Wounded Warriors and civilians who choose to undergo penile allotransplantation. The investigators will combine extensive experience performing total penile reconstruction in a large population affected by congenital, traumatic, and therapeutically extirpated Genitourinary deformities and expertise in reconstructive transplantation using an immunomodulatory protocol to for this study. The investigators anticipate penile transplantation can potentially replace "like with like," restoring the appearance, anatomy, and function of the recipient in a manner far superior to autologous reconstruction. This project will establish the ability to perform penile allotransplantation using an immunomodulatory protocol and will compare outcomes with conventional phalloplasty patient results. Study Design: This is a non-randomized subject self-controlled clinical trial to implement a cell-based immunomodulatory protocol for penile allotransplantation. An intermediate deliverable is achieving allograft survival and functional return with reduced dosing/frequency of maintenance immunosuppression on steroid-free monotherapy (tacrolimus) immunosuppression. The long-term deliverable and goal is to demonstrate superior outcomes when compared to satisfaction and QOL in conventional phalloplasty patients 12-60 months post-transplant.