Targeted spinal-cord electrodes to restore feeling after lower-limb amputation
Electrodes for selective stimulation of the lateral spinal cord to restore sensation after lower-limb amputation
This project is designing and testing thinner, more flexible spinal-cord electrodes to create focused sensations for people with lower-limb amputations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11314502 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team is developing new, very thin and flexible electrodes that aim to stimulate side regions of the spinal cord and nearby dorsal roots to recreate sensations in a missing foot or leg. They will test and refine these designs using large-animal nerve recordings, study tissue effects with histology, and run computer simulations to predict which electrode shapes and contact spacings give the most precise sensations. Results from those experiments and models will guide construction of electrodes with smaller contacts and tighter spacing than current devices. The long-term aim is an implantable neurostimulation system that can provide useful, focal sensory feedback for prosthetic users.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with lower-limb (foot or leg) amputations who lack sensory feedback from a prosthetic and who would be medically eligible for an implanted spinal-cord device in future trials.
Not a fit: People without limb loss, those whose spinal cord injury or medical condition prevents safe implantation, or those not eligible for surgery would likely not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let people with leg or foot amputations feel focused sensations from a prosthetic, improving walking stability and reducing fall risk.
How similar studies have performed: Early work—including prior studies from this group and peripheral-nerve stimulation research—has produced sensation with spinal or nerve stimulation, but creating reliably focal sensations with thinner lateral spinal electrodes is still novel.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fisher, Lee E — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Fisher, Lee E
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 below.