9 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Organ transplantation has become the treatment of choice for most patients suffering end stage diseases of the kidney, pancreas, liver, heart or lung. Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation (VCA) {a.k.a. composite tissue allotransplantation} is the term used to describe transplantation of multiple tissues (skin, muscle, bone, cartilage, nerve, tendon, vessel) as a functional unit (e.g. hand). Several recent advances in clinical organ transplant immunosuppression and experimental limb VCA have now made it feasible to consider clinical VCA for the functional restoration of patients with loss of one or both hands. This protocol facilitates the development of limb VCA at the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and at Emory University for patients with below the elbow amputations. It will evaluate the patients' use of transplanted limb(s) in activities of daily living and compare the function of the transplanted hand to the function with their previous prosthesis. Patients with below the elbow amputations will be enrolled. Donor tissue will be recovered from deceased donors following the guidelines of and in cooperation with the regional Organ Procurement Organization. The transplantation procedure and postoperative care will be performed using the standard technique for limb replantation. Patients will receive standard immunosuppressive regimen. Rejections will be treated in keeping with experience from the solid organ transplant experience. Graft failure will be treated with allograft amputation.
The purpose of this study is to determine if Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) can lead to greater prosthesis function and control. Subjects are asked to perform specific tasks and actions using the traditional control method, as well as RFID control.
The purpose of this research study is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of using two CRS Arrays (microelectrodes) for long-term recording of brain motor cortex activity and microstimulation of brain sensory cortex.
The study is evaluating the performance of prosthesis control system, referred to as Phantom X, in able bodied individuals and individuals with upper limb amputation at the forearm level.
The goal of this proposed project is to evaluate the effectiveness of our novel wireless electrode system, which the investigators refer to as the ASTERISK system, on transradial prosthesis users. There are numerous benefits to the upper limb prosthesis community being able to utilize wireless electrodes. These benefits include allowing for the use of a prosthetics liner to assist with fit and comfort, easier implementation of EMG-controlled prosthesis for individuals with osseointegration, and additional EMG electrode location options if the muscle activity captured within the prosthetic socket does not provide reliable prosthesis control. The investigators intend to use this data to develop the ASTERISK wireless electrode system into a commercial product. The findings will also be shared with the research community to help drive the design of future devices.
The objective of this study is to develop a virtual rehabilitation system that can be used to effectively treat Phantom Limb Pain (PLP) within the research setting and for at-home use by individuals with upper and lower extremity amputation. We hypothesize that the system will improve PLP for individuals with upper or lower extremity amputation, as measured through with various outcome measures and questionnaires.
The goal is to understand the critical factors associated with outcome acceptance following upper limb loss. The investigators aim to develop a unified theoretical model that describes the psychosocial experience of upper limb prosthesis use and predicts outcome acceptance following upper limb loss. The investigators will also examine experiences with prosthesis education, selection, and training as well as how psychological and social issues impact prosthesis use. In addition, the investigators will use the findings to develop a prototype decision tool to assist with matching persons to prostheses. Study findings will help providers, technology developers, and researchers better understand the complex experience of upper limb prosthesis use. This conceptual framework will enable clinicians and researchers to evaluate and predict patient outcomes following limb loss, and to design interventions that improve outcomes. The proposed study is a mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) study using an observational design. The qualitative component of the study will involve data collection through telephone interviews with 42 participants and analyses using a grounded theory approach with constant comparison methods. The quantitative component involves administration of standardized measures quantifying constructs of the theoretical model in 120 participants and analyses to produce a structural equation model of outcome acceptance. Participants will include persons with unilateral acquired upper limb loss at the trans radial or trans humeral level who use currently available prosthetic devices. Up to 16 individuals will participate in a series of focus groups that will be conducted to provide feedback on the model generated from previous data.
The ultimate objective of the proposed line of research is to determine if cryoanalgesia is an effective adjunctive treatment for pain in the period immediately following various painful surgical procedures; and, if this analgesic modality decreases the risk of persistent postoperative pain, or "chronic" pain. The objective of the proposed pilot study is to optimize the protocol and collect data to power subsequent, definitive clinical trials. Specific Aim 1: To determine if, compared with current and customary analgesia, the addition of cryoanalgesia decreases the incidence and severity of post-surgical pain. Hypothesis 1a (primary): The severity of surgically-related pain will be significantly decreased on postoperative day 2 with the addition of cryoanalgesia as compared with patients receiving solely standard-of-care treatment. Hypothesis 1b: The incidence of chronic pain will be significantly decreased one year following surgery with the addition of cryoanalgesia as compared with patients receiving solely standard-of-care treatment. Hypothesis 1c: The severity of chronic pain will be significantly decreased one year following surgery with the addition of cryoanalgesia as compared with patients receiving solely standard-of-care treatment. Specific Aim 2: To determine if, compared with current and customary analgesia, the addition of cryoanalgesia improves postoperative functioning. Hypothesis 2a: Following primary unilateral knee and shoulder arthroplasty as well as rotator cuff repair, joint range of motion will be significantly increased within the year following surgery with the addition of cryoanalgesia as compared with patients receiving solely standard-of-care treatment. Hypothesis 2b: Following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, inspiratory spirometry will be improved within the month following surgery with the addition of cryoanalgesia as compared with patients receiving solely standard-of-care treatment.
There is an urgent need to develop hand transplant programs in this country. To this end, the University of Michigan Hospital and Health Systems is developing such an interdisciplinary program. The Transplant Center would like to track the patient experience from pre-operative care through surgery and post-operative care. Detailed information will be collected from the patient medical records, including: Pre-operative screening, demographics, medications; Surgical information ; Post-operative inpatient and out-patient care; laboratory and other test results; physical assessments, psychological assessments and quality of life assessments.