Spinal Cord Injury Cervical

This study explores two promising therapies for restoring arm and hand function in people with chronic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), a condition that affects independence and quality of life. It will compare transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation and paired corticospinal-motoneuronal stimulation, both combined with rehabilitation. Using a crossover design, participants will receive each therapy for two months, with a one-month washout period in between. Safety, effectiveness, and patient-reported outcomes like daily living ability and quality of life will be assessed, alongside changes in neural excitability. The results of this study may enable us to tailor treatments to individual needs, promoting personalized care and improved outcomes.

This is a single-cohort early feasibility trial to determine whether an investigational device called the Bidirectional Neural Bypass System can lead to the restoration of movement and sensation in the hand and wrist of up to seven individuals with tetraplegia.

The goal of this RCT study is to evaluate if combining activity-based therapy (ABT) with transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) can improve recovery of arm and hand movement in people with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). As secondary aims, the study will also investigate at how this combination approach affects the cortical changes in the somatosensory and motor areas of the brain, as well as in the spinal cord and whether it helps participants use their arms more in daily life. The main questions relevant to this study are: 1. Can the combination of ABT + tSCS improve motor and sensory functions of the arms and hands more than ABT alone during the sub-acute stage after SCI? 2. Does ABT + tSCS induce neuroplasticity, that is, changes in the brain and spinal cord activity linked to motor and sensory functions? 3. Do participants who receive ABT + tSCS report greater use of their arms in daily activities compared to those who receive ABT only? In this study, participants will: * Receive either ABT + tSCS or ABT + sham stimulation (a low-intensity current that does not facilitate the movements) * Take part in 20 training sessions over 6-8 weeks (3 times per week, 45 min of active training each). During this, they will perform strengthening, task-based training, and mental imagery exercises with a therapist. * Complete clinical tests and neurophysiological assessments (transspinal electrical stimulation, electroencephalography and transcranial magnetic stimulation) at three time points-- at the start, after training, and one month later to measure recovery and brain activity changes. Researchers will compare the assessment outcomes across the three time points.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new method of restoring hand function to people with spinal cord injury. Current methods to restore hand function include tendon transfers and nerve transfers. This study will evaluate the grasp strength that can be achieved with a small, implantable stimulator. KeyGrip is an investigational device that works by activating paralyzed muscles with low levels of electrical current. The word "investigational" means the study device is still being tested in research studies and is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use being studied. Hypothesis. The study is designed to explore the feasibility of this approach; no hypothesis is planned at this stage

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn more about how stimulating the nerves involved in sensation (either in the limbs or in the brain) can be used to restore sensation in participants who have a spinal cord injury. Participants in this study will have already been enrolled in the "Reconnecting the Hand and Arm to the Brain (ReHAB)" study, and received small electrodes in a part of the brain that is involved in sensing touch and pressure in the hand. The ReHAB study participants will also have received electrodes around the nerves in their arm. In this clinical trial, participants will receive two types of electrical stimulation: * Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) which involves sending small electrical pulses to the part of the brain that processes sensation. * Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) which involves sending small electrical pulses to the nerves in the arm that transmit sensations from the hand. Researchers will try different patterns of stimulation for both ICMS and PNS and study how the participants perceive the sensations from the different stimulation patterns. The researchers will also study how combining ICMS and PNS affects the perceived sensations.

The DOSED clinical study evaluates the safety and utility of a novel delivery device to deliver LCTOPC1, a cell therapy, to the spinal cord of patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI). LCTOPC1 is designed to replace or support cells that are absent or dysfunctional due to traumatic injury, with a goal to help improve the quality of life and restore or augment functional activity in persons suffering from a traumatic cervical or thoracic injuries.

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can seriously affect a person's ability to breathe. This happens because the injury can damage the nerves that control the muscles used for breathing. As a result, people with SCI often face breathing problems, a higher risk of lung infections, and even early death. While breathing exercises can help strengthen these muscles, they often aren't intense enough to make a big difference, especially in people with long-term injuries. This research project is exploring a new way to improve breathing in people with chronic SCI. The goal is to "wake up" the remaining nerve pathways that still connect the brain and spinal cord to the breathing muscles. By doing this, the investigators hope to make breathing exercises more effective and improve overall respiratory health. The investigators are testing a combination of two non-invasive (non-surgical) techniques: Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation (tSCS): This uses small electrical pulses delivered through the skin to stimulate the spinal cord and help activate the muscles used for breathing. Hypercapnic-Hypoxia Protocol (HiCO₂-AIH): This involves breathing air with lower oxygen and higher carbon dioxide for short periods. This naturally increases the brain's drive to breathe and may help strengthen the breathing muscles. The investigators believe that using these two techniques together will "prime" the nervous system, making it more responsive to breathing exercises. This could lead to better outcomes for people with SCI. In addition to testing this treatment, the investigators are also collecting saliva and blood samples to look for biomarkers-biological clues that might help predict who will benefit most from this therapy. These include genetic markers and signs of nerve damage in the blood. Who Can Participate The investigators are looking for adults aged 18 to 70 who: Have had a spinal cord injury for at least one year. Have an injury between the neck and upper back (from C3 to T8). Have an incomplete injury (some nerve function remains). Are medically stable and cleared by a doctor. Have at least a 20% reduction in breathing strength. What Participants Will Do Each participant will complete four rounds of treatment. Each round includes four days in a row of therapy, followed by a three-week break before the next round. Each daily session lasts about two hours and includes: Breathing special air mixtures (low oxygen and high carbon dioxide) for short periods, followed by normal air. A short break. Then, spinal cord stimulation combined with breathing exercises that use resistance (like breathing through a straw). What the Investigators Will Measure The investigators will track: Breathing ability using lung function tests and pressure measurements. Nerve activity using brain and spinal cord stimulation to see how well the diaphragm (the main breathing muscle) responds. Safety by monitoring oxygen levels, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing responses during each session. Biological Samples Participants will provide: A one-time saliva sample for genetic testing. A one-time blood sample to look for markers of nerve injury. Why This Matters This study could lead to new, non-invasive treatments that improve breathing and quality of life for people living with spinal cord injuries. By identifying who is most likely to benefit from this therapy, the investigators can also move toward more personalized and effective care in the future.

The overall objective of this trial is to characterize the safety and effectiveness of the Networked Neuroprosthesis Device - Upper Extremity (NP-UE) in individuals living with cervical SCI.

This study is to evaluate the use of a fully implanted device for providing hand function, reach, and trunk function to individuals with cervical spinal cord injury. Funding Sources: FDA OOPD NIH NINDS

Stimulation of the spinal cord and brain represents a new experimental therapy that may have potential to restore movement after spinal cord injury. While some scientists have begun to study the effect of electrical stimulation on patient's ability to walk and move their legs after lower spinal cord injury, the use of stimulation of the upper (cervical) spine to restore arm and hand function after cervical spinal cord injury remains less well explored. The investigators are doing this research study to improve understanding of whether cervical spinal cord stimulation and brain stimulation can be used to improve arm and hand function. To do this, the investigators will combine spine stimulation (in the form of electrical stimulation from electrical stimulation wires temporarily implanted next to the cervical spinal cord) and brain stimulation (in the form of transcranial magnetic stimulation). The investigators will perform a series of experiments over 29 days to study whether these forms of stimulation can be applied and combined to provide improvement in arm and hand function.

The goal of this study is to understand the effects of combined task practice with transcutaneous cervical spinal cord stimulation. The study will explore the effect of higher stimulation frequencies on spasticity. Transcutaneous stimulation has been shown to improve motor function in some individuals with chronic spinal cord injury. The study intends to explore scientifically the association between higher stimulation frequencies and spasticity/hypertonicity.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and technical feasibility of a novel brain-machine interface (BCI)-assisted spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and exoskeleton (EXS) system in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). The primary aim is to determine whether the BCI-SCS-EXS system can safely and effectively improve lower limb motor function and quality of life in individuals with chronic SCI. Participant Population: Adults aged 14-65 years (sex/gender not limited). Patients with chronic SCI (≥6 months post-injury) classified as ASIA A, B, or C. Individuals with stable health status, MMSE ≥22, and secondary education or above. Primary Questions: 1. Is the BCI-SCS-EXS system safe and technically feasible for SCI rehabilitation? 2. Does the system improve lower limb motor function and quality of life in SCI patients? Interventions: Participants will undergo the following procedures: Phase I (Implantation): BCI implantation: ECoG electrodes placed over the motor cortex to decode lower limb movement intent. SCS electrode implantation: 5-6-5 paddle electrodes at T11-L2 for targeted spinal cord stimulation. Phase II (System Calibration): BCI-SCS synchronization: Calibration of decoded motor intent to trigger SCS parameters. SCS-EXO synchronization: Integration of SCS pulses with exoskeleton-assisted gait training. Phase III (Rehabilitation): Daily BCI-SCS-EXS training sessions (60 minutes, 5 times/week for 1 year). Adaptive adjustments to stimulation parameters and exoskeleton support based on performance. Remote monitoring of device performance and emergency intervention for technical issues. Outcome Measures: Primary: Safety (adverse events, device performance, synchronization metrics). Secondary: Efficacy (motor function, neurophysiological function, quality of life). Ethics and Safety: Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Adverse events will be monitored and reported according to CTCAE 5.0 guidelines. Participant confidentiality will be strictly maintained. This study will provide foundational evidence for the safety and feasibility of the BCI-SCS-EXO system, paving the way for future randomized controlled trials in SCI rehabilitation.

The University at Buffalo (UB) Department of Rehabilitation Sciences is looking for adult volunteers with and without spinal cord injuries for a study on hand movement. The goal of the study is to learn about how the brain, nerves, and muscles of the body are connected and perform everyday tasks. This may help us to develop ways to improve the hand functions of people with spinal cord injuries.

The purpose of this clinical trial is to understand the safety and practicality of using spinal cord transcutaneous (through the skin) stimulation in an inpatient setting as well as how the combination of activity-based training (ABT) and spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation (scTS) can improve participants' ability to use their hands, arms, and trunk in an inpatient rehabilitation program. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is the combination of spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation and ABT is safe and practical when applied to individuals with acute to subacute cervical SCI during inpatient rehabilitation? * How the combined intervention can improve hand and arm function when applied to those individuals? The investigators will assess the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of the combined intervention and compare to a sham control (sham stimulation combined with ABT) and a ABT only group to see if the combined intervention can lead to greater function recovery. Participants will: * Receive one type of the three intervention (scTS+ABT, sham scTS+ABT, or ABT only) for 10 sessions with 30 mins/session over 2 weeks. * Receive assessment before, during, and immediately after the intervention, and at 1-month, 2-month, and 3-month follow-up visits.

Tetraplegia after a cervical spinal cord injury (C-SCI) radically alters an individual's ability to perform normal activities of daily life due to paralysis in all extremities, resulting in lifelong dependence.\[1\] Traditional tendon transfer surgery has proven successful in restoring grip functions which greatly improves autonomy, but with a restricted passive opening of the hand. The number of transferrable muscles in the arm is however limited, why nerve transfer surgery is a new attractive option to further improve hand function by enabling active opening of the hand. Significant advantages of distal nerve transfers include less extensive surgical dissection, greatly reduced hospital stay, rehabilitation and restrictions, and thereby less health care use and costs. In an effort to further improve hand function and independence in patients with tetraplegia, hand surgeons at Centre for Advanced Reconstruction of Extremities (C.A.R.E.), Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SUH)/Mölndal have developed a strategy in which a nerve transfer procedure aiming to restore active opening of the hand is done prior to reconstruction of grip functions. To date, no study has compared the efficacy of this combined nerve and tendon transfer (CNaTT) procedure to traditional grip reconstruction by means of tendon transfer alone, thus constituting a major gap in the literature. The purpose of this study is therefore to fill that knowledge gap by comparing the clinical outcomes of a cohort of patients who undergo the CNaTT procedure to restore hand function, to those treated by means of tendon transfer alone.

The ABT-TCSCS study investigates how feasible and beneficial are activity-based therapy and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation on improving of arm and hand recovery after cervical spinal cord injury.

People with spinal cord injuries may experience muscle tightness or uncontrollable spasms. This study is being conducted to investigate whether transcutaneous spinal stimulation can improve these symptoms. Transcutaneous spinal stimulation is a non-surgical intervention by applying electrical currents using skin electrodes over the lower back and belly. The investigators want to see how well the intervention of transcutaneous spinal stimulation performs by testing different levels of stimulation pulse rates. Also, transcutaneous spinal stimulation is compared to muscle relaxants such as baclofen and tizanidine, commonly given to people with spinal cord injuries, to reduce muscle stiffness and spasms. By doing this, the investigators hope to discover if transcutaneous spinal stimulation similarly reduces muscle spasms and stiffness or if combining both methods works best. This could help improve treatment options for people with spinal cord injuries in the future.

Restoring upper extremity function in patients with cervical spinal cord injury is extremely important for patients' independence and quality of life. At present, there are limited options for hand or arm reanimation in this patient population. Nerve transfer is one such option that can partially restore the natural movement of hand or arm function in select patients. The investigators are interested in understanding whether recovery of hand or arm motor function after nerve transfer can be augmented by cervical epidural spinal cord stimulation.