Safer automated muscle stimulation to prevent ICU-acquired weakness
Official title: Closed Loop Electrical Muscle Stimulation System (CL-EMS) with improved safety for ICU environment to mitigate ICU Acquired Weakness
Funded at Health Discovery Labs LLC · NIH-11182586 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds an automated muscle-stimulation device to help people in the ICU keep muscle strength and make it easier to come off mechanical ventilation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Health Discovery Labs LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,095,012 |
| NIH project number | 5R44EB033725-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11182586 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people newly admitted to the ICU, especially those on mechanical ventilation or otherwise unable to take part in active physical therapy.
✕Less likely to help
People with implanted electronic devices like pacemakers, extensive skin injuries where electrodes cannot be placed, or certain neuromuscular disorders may not be eligible or may not benefit.
What this research studies
The team is creating a closed-loop electrical muscle stimulation system that uses skin electrodes to passively activate limb and breathing muscles even when a patient is sedated. The device will monitor feedback and automatically adjust stimulation to stay within safe limits for the ICU environment. The focus is on delivering early, non-volitional exercise for patients who cannot cooperate with physical therapy. The project includes engineering development and clinical testing in hospital ICUs to demonstrate safe use immediately after ICU admission.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce muscle wasting in the ICU, shorten time on ventilators, and improve short- and long-term recovery and function.
How similar studies have gone: Some clinical studies of conventional EMS show early rehabilitation benefits for ICU patients, but a closed-loop, ICU-specific device with enhanced safety features is newer and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Health Discovery Labs LLC
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hassan, Oussama — Health Discovery Labs LLC
- Study coordinator: Hassan, Oussama
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Developing a system to use electrical stimulation for preventing muscle weakness in ICU patients
This study is testing a new device that uses gentle electrical pulses to help keep your muscles strong while you're in the ICU, so you can recover better and avoid weakness from being in bed for a long time.
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Can a handheld nerve monitor detect early ICU weakness in healthy people and ICU patients
This study tests whether a non-invasive nerve monitor (TetraGraph) can spot early signs of ICU-acquired weakness by comparing its readings with standard nerve tests in healthy volunteers and ICU patients.
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MyokinE100 System: Closed Loop Electrical Muscle Stimulation to Help ICU Patients Maintain Muscle Strength
This trial tests whether adding daily 60-minute thigh electrical muscle stimulation to standard ICU care is safe and easy for adults with sepsis or critical illness to see if it slows ICU-acquired muscle weakness.
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ICU‑Recover Box 2.0: smart home monitoring for people after an ICU stay.
This pilot tests whether a home ICU‑Recover Box with smart sensors can help people recovering from an ICU stay detect problems early and support recovery during the year after discharge.
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Sitting ventilated ICU patients in an armchair to improve recovery.
This test will try sitting adults on mechanical ventilation in an armchair to see if it helps their breathing, strength, and recovery after an ICU stay.
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Rehabilitation of hand and arm function using virtual reality
This study is testing if a fun virtual reality game can help improve hand and arm strength in ICU patients who have been in the hospital for a while, compared to regular rehab methods.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.