Medical Devices

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An assistive device for individuals with upper extremity neuromuscular deficit has been developed by researchers at Vanderbilt. This device is specifically designed for patients having hemiplegia following stroke, incomplete spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and other disabilities and conditions, who may have severe muscle weakness or inability to fully control an upper limb. In order to facilitate use of the upper limb, the patient can wear the device as a substitute for or a supplement to the patient's volitional movement.

LumaSiL is a low-level light therapy (LLLT) producing device which aims to accelerate wound healing and reduce the incidence of infection in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). There is no treatment option using this technology that actively encourages diabetic foot ulcer healing, complements current procedures, and maintains patient compliance. Complications like infection often require the need for surgical intervention such as lower-extremity amputation. Previous studies have shown that exposing wounds to dose-specific levels of light can reduce wound size and promote healing. Incorporated into a standard of care, the total-contact cast, this device transfers LED light from a power source to the wound site in order to introduce an active healing component for diabetic foot ulcers.

Vanderbilt students have created a stabilization system for secure and stable MRI positioning of hands, wrists, knees, shoulders, and the lower back, using affordable, easy to use, and readily available materials. The system effectively reduces image blurring using a non-irritating film and a supportive frame. This device can simultaneously improve MRI diagnosis, enhance the patient experience, and minimize the time and financial burdens of image retakes.

This device is designed to assist physical therapists in collection of objective data during gait analysis, to facilitate appropriate assistive gait device prescription, to provide patients and therapists feedback during gait training, and to reduce wrist and shoulder injuries with cane usage.Currently gait characteristics are "measured" in a clinic-based atmosphere. This has two limitations: (i) subjective allocation of "measures" of gait characteristics and (ii) limited data based on trials in the clinic ONLY. What this technology is designed to do is achieve freedom from both of these limitations. The measurements are objective and numerical values (force etc.) and the clinic could provide the cane to the user for obtaining a much more extensive data set including use during normal life activities at home etc.